THE KABATAAN partylist  on Friday sought a higher budget for the education sector as it submitted amendments to House Bill 7727 or the General Appropriations Bill.

Partylist Rep. Sarah Jane Elago urged members of the House Committee on Appropriations to reconsider the allocation for education and social services to protect the right of Filipinos to education and health.

“Congress must prioritize legislation on comprehensive Covid19 response and measures to uphold the right of the Filipino youth to a learner-centered, pro-student mode of learning amid the Covid19 pandemic,” Elago said.

She stressed the need to increase the subsidy for quality and inclusive distance education in public schools and in state universities and colleges.

The lawmaker sought the restoration of the P11.8 billion budget for the Commission on Higher Education and a P74.3 billion increase in the allocations for SUCs.

Elago also proposed the allocation of P46 billion for scholarships and stipends; P4.9 billion for additional classrooms, facilities and learning spaces and materials; P360 million for preventive health measures in schools; P1.2 billion for health protection and benefits; P33 billion for social amelioration for private education personnel and P15.7 billion for augmentation of non-education line items.

“It is imperative for us to collectively raise the people’s voices and advance their demands as we build back better. The youth hopes for the consideration of these proposed amendments as we stand by our obligation as a genuine youth partylist representation,” Elago said.