SENATOR Bam Aquino announced that around 20,000 nursing and allied health sciences students are set to benefit from ₱500 million in financial assistance for their Related Learning Experience (RLE) under the 2026 national budget.

Aquino announced a reunion with nursing students he met while campaigning for the 2025 senatorial elections in Cebu City.

During their initial meeting, the students raised concerns over the high costs of RLE—equivalent to on-the-job training and a graduation requirement for nursing students—which Aquino committed to address.

Fulfilling his promise, Aquino secured ₱500 million in the 2026 national budget under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses of the Higher Education Development Program, specifically earmarked to support RLE requirements for allied health sciences students.

“We were able to include in the budget a ₱500-million scholarship specifically for RLE, providing up to ₱20,000 per semester,” Aquino said.

“That’s good for about 20,000 students. I think there are around 100,000 nursing students in the Philippines, so one-fifth can receive assistance,” he added, stressing that underprivileged students will be prioritized under guidelines to be issued by the Commission on Higher Education to ensure equitable and efficient implementation.

Aquino also thanked the students for bringing the issue to his attention, saying their input played a key role in shaping the RLE proposal.

“You can be proud and say that because we had a session at the IT Park, this fund was created. Many of our laws are shaped through consultations with the people we want to help and with local leaders like mayors, who provide valuable insights,” he said.

Aquino also filed Senate Bill No. 123, which seeks to make RLE free in state universities and colleges and local universities and colleges.

Under the proposed measure, nursing students in private universities would apply for Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) assistance for RLE-related expenses.