THE HOUSE Committee on Higher and Technical Education has approved bills providing scholarships to students and teachers across various disciplines.

The panel headed by Baguio Rep. Mark Go agreed to endorse for plenary deliberations House Bill 9539, or the proposed Scholarship ng Humanidades at Agham Panlipunan Act of 2023; House Bill 6910 or measure establishing a social work scholarship program; House Bill 2624, granting postgraduate scholarships to public elementary and high school teachers; House Bill 2419, establishing an integrated agri-preneurs scholarship program; House Bill 957 or establishing a national scholarship program for studies in nuclear science and engineering, and House Bill 5129, providing a comprehensive scholarship for students training to become forensic pathologists.

House Bill 9539, authored by Quezon City Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar, seeks to provide financial assistance to deserving students, particularly those with economically disadvantaged backgrounds, pursuing courses in humanities, social sciences, economics, political science, anthropology, mass communication, history, library science, legal management, and law.

“Ang mga kursong kabilang sa humanidades at agham panlipunan ay madalas na hindi nabibigyan ng sapat na suporta sa kabila ng kanilang mahalagang papel sa pagbabalangkas ng kritikal na pag-iisip, pangkulturang pag-unawa, at panlipunang pagkaka-isa,” said Co-Pilar.

On the other hand, House Bill 6910, authored by Laguna Rep. Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, seeks to address the shortage of social workers in the country by providing tuition, allowances, and benefits to deserving students.

Beneficiaries of the social work scholarship program are obligated to work under CHED and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The committee accepted proposed amendments to the bill, including compliance requirements and prioritizing graduates from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.

Meanwhile, House Bill 2624, authored by Batangas Rep. Lianda Bolilia, shall grant postgraduate scholarships to public elementary and high school teachers in state colleges and universities.

The committee also approved, subject to amendments, House Bill 2419, by AGRI Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee aiming to encourage students to pursue studies in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries to address the aging population of farmers in the Philippines.

Also approved were House Bill 957, establishing a national scholarship program for studies in nuclear science and engineering, and House Bill 5129, providing a comprehensive scholarship for students training to become forensic pathologists.