AKBAYAN Partylist First Nominee Atty. Chel Diokno vows to push for the passage of a measure that will provide direct financial aid to college students, helping them cover other education-related expenses.

Diokno said he will submit the Allowance is Essential measure once he secures a seat in Congress, stressing that it will complement and expand the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, or the law providing free tuition to students.

“Mabigat pa ring pasanin ang pang-araw-araw na gastusin sa pag-aaral. Kasama na riyan ang allowance at gastusin sa pamasahe, dormitory fees, libro, at iba pang pangangailangan sa pag-aaral kaya kailangan pa rin ng dagdag na tulong mula sa gobyerno,” Diokno said.

The human rights lawyer emphasized the necessity for additional assistance for students, pointing out that the college dropout rate remains high despite the free tuition, due to persistent financial challenges.

According to the Year Two report by the Second Congressional Commission on Education, the higher education attrition or dropout rate is at 39 percent nationally.

“Kahit na mayroon na tayong batas na libre na college education, marami pa rin tayong mga kabataan na hindi nakakapagtapos ng college dahil libre nga ang tuition pero wala silang pambaon, hindi na nila makuha iyong pangangailangan nila para makapag-aral,” Diokno said.

“Itong pinu-push namin na Allowance is Essential, iyan sana iyong tutulong sa ibang mga estudyante na dahil sa kahirapan, hindi makakapagtuloy sa college,” Diokno added.

He further stressed that Akbayan Partylist will push for the inclusion of senior high and basic education students under the Allowance is Essential Law.

Aside from this, Akbayan Partylist will also push other educational reforms, such as the allocation of at least six percent of the country’s gross domestic product for the education budget to help address the education crisis and improve learning outcomes of students.

Diokno also promised to upgrade the salary grade levels of public school teachers and provide well-reviewed textbooks per child in all subjects.

The Akbayan First Nominee is also pushing for the full implementation of the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers and other laws on overtime pay and the provision of ample instructional supplies and equipment for teachers.

“We need to provide all the necessary support to our teachers—from adequate salary and other benefits to sufficient supplies and materials for teaching—so they can effectively fulfill their duties to our students,” he said.

Diokno visited several schools in Bacolod City, including Carlos Hilado Memorial State University, College of Arts and Sciences of Asia and the Pacific, the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and Fast Central College to discuss human rights and youth participation in good governance.