SENATOR Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has expressed strong support for increasing the budget for scholarships for the children of former combatants, saying the move will help secure long-term peace and development in conflict-affected areas of the country.

During the 2026 budget deliberations for the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), which he chairs as head of the Senate Finance Subcommittee E, Dela Rosa welcomed the proposal of Senator Loren Legarda to provide additional funding for the scholarship program.

Legarda suggested raising the annual grant—currently ₱50,000 per student—and expanding the number of beneficiaries.

Dela Rosa shared his own experience as a full scholar at Mindanao State University (MSU)–Marawi, recalling how a modest ₱300 monthly allowance during his college days made a significant impact on his life.

“That ₱300 allowance went a long way. I could even bring home a can of biscuits for my siblings when I visited Davao,” he said, noting that access to education can transform the lives of children in conflict zones.

He also recounted studying amid armed clashes between government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front in the early 1980s.

“If we really focus on this, it’s not only the children of Muslim rebels who will benefit, but also Christians, Lumads, and even students from Palawan and Manila who study at MSU-Marawi,” he stressed.

Legarda further proposed expanding coverage from just one child per family to all children of combatants and urged OPAPRU Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. to submit a revised funding computation.

“We will ask for the list of scholarships in all state universities and LGU colleges in the BARMM region and their student beneficiaries,” Legarda said.