SENATOR Manuel ‘Lito’ Lapid is pushing for a measure establishing the College Living Expenses Financing Program.

Lapid’s Senate Bill 274 or the proposed College Living Expenses Financing Program Act aims to support higher studies of Filipino students of good academic standing.

The measure mandates the national government to set up a loan guarantee fund on student loans to be provided by the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Land Bank of the Philippines.

In his explanatory note, Lapid said while the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act provides for free tuition and exemption on other fees for students of state colleges and universities, there are a lot more factors that hinder the attainment of making quality education accessible to all.

“Libre man po ang tuition fee para sa ating mga estudante, marami pa rin po ang nahihirapan tumuloy sa kolehiyo sapagkat wala po silang mapagkukunan ng pangtustos para sa kanilang pamumuhay habang nag-aaral,” Lapid said.

The bill seeks to fill the gap by providing a means to cover other expenses that necessarily come with studying, such as board and lodging, pocket money, transportation costs, food expenses, uniforms and personal clothing, books and supplies and other miscellaneous expenses.

The measure also seeks to alleviate the burden students face by offering them loans with minimal interest.