FORMER Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III announced plans to push for a measure mandating a 14th month pay for Filipino workers to help families cover school tuition and other expenses.

“The 13th month pay was mandated by Presidential Decree 851 in 1975. We need to push for a 14th month pay to help families with expenses like school tuition in June,” Sotto said.

Since the school calendar begins in June, Filipino parents typically face financial strain around this time.

Sotto proposed that the 14th month pay be released mid-year, providing financial relief when school fees are due.

He also highlighted the urgent need for more doctors, especially in Mindanao, citing the Doctor Para sa Bayan Act, which he co-authored. He assured Alyansa Para sa Bagong PIlipinas would conduct oversight to ensure proper implementation of medical scholarships.

“We need to increase the number of doctors in Mindanao, but the Commission on Higher Education has been reducing scholarship slots. That’s unacceptable. We’ll make sure funding remains intact,” Sotto said.

Sotto also addressed concerns regarding the agricultural sector, emphasizing Alyansa’s commitment to curbing agricultural smuggling and prioritizing modernization efforts.

“We will fight smuggling to protect our farmers, but the core issue is budget reform. If we want real change, we need to overhaul how funds are distributed,” he said.