THE House of Representatives has unanimously approved a measure seeking to impose a moratorium on student loan payments during calamities, disasters, crises, and other emergencies.

Voting 255-0, the solons approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 9978, or the proposed Moratorium on Payment of Student Loan Act granting the postponement of the collection of student loans for a reasonable duration during and following the occurrence of disasters and other emergencies.

The bill will cover all students residing in areas declared to be under a state of calamity or emergency, including pupils enrolled in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, private HEIs, and public and private technical-vocational institutions.

It further provides that availing of the moratorium shall not adversely affect the status of the concerned students regarding their eligibility for re-enrollment in the succeeding semesters or terms, or their eligibility for graduation.

It can be recalled that last February, the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education approved Senate Bill No. 1864 or the proposed Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act, all students enrolled in State and Local Universities and Colleges, private Higher Educational Institutions and public and private Technological and Vocational Institute located in areas under state of calamity shall be covered by the moratorium.

The moratorium shall be effective for the duration of the state of calamity or emergency and 30 days after the lifting of such state of calamity or emergency.

The report also stressed that the availment of the payment moratorium shall not adversely affect the status of the students concerned about their eligibility for re-enrollment or graduation.