TO EASE the financial burden on nursing students, former Senator and independent senatorial candidate Bam Aquino has pledged to push for additional funding for laboratory expenses and scholarships that will also cover the cost of Related Learning Experience (RLE).

Aquino described these expenses as an added burden on students, which he aims to address if re-elected to the Senate.

During a discussion with nursing students in Cebu City, Aquino learned about the high cost of RLE, which is equivalent to on-the-job training and a mandatory requirement for completing a nursing degree.

In response, Aquino vowed to advocate for the inclusion of RLE in scholarship programs, particularly for students enrolled in private nursing schools across the country.

“We can include RLE as part of the scholarship programs. Right now, it’s not covered,” Aquino stated.

Under his proposal, recipients of RLE-inclusive scholarships would be required to serve in local hospitals for three years to help address the country’s ongoing nursing shortage.

“We need to bring in more nurses to fill the gaps in our hospitals,” Aquino explained.

He emphasized that increasing the number of nursing graduates would help resolve the high nurse-to-patient ratio, which has been a persistent challenge in the Philippine healthcare system.

Aquino also expressed his intent to review the implementation of RLE requirements, as they have been cited as a major factor contributing to student dropouts in nursing programs.