KABATAAN Partylist Rep. Sarah Jane Elago asked heads of State Universities and Colleges to provide the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education data on the employment status of its students post-graduation.

She stressed the need to ensure that higher education is responsive to the needs of individuals and their communities.

“We would also like to request the effectivity of the implementation of the Senior High School programs under these respective SUCs,” Elago said.

She encouraged SUC presidents and officials to support their petition for financial assistance for expanded programs amid the pandemic.

“Their participation has also been instrumental in improving our education relief, student aid, academic freedom bills and other concrete measures, particularly on the matter of the P10,000 cash aid, waiving of student loans and interests, and all other subsidies to assist diversely affected SUC stakeholders including faculty and education support personnel,” Elago said.

The petition was signed by at least 10,000 student councils, organizations, regents and campus press.

The lawmaker also called for the prioritization of the Bayanihan 3 bill which seeks to provide P4 billion to P5 billion additional budgetary support for basic and higher education.

“Kailangan na rin pong sertipikahang urgent na ang Bayanihan 3 na ipinasa na ng ating Kapulungan at ngayong nakabimbin sa Senado,” Elago said.