SOLID North Partylist Rep. Ching Bernos has called on local government units (LGUs) to extend support to college students struggling to comply with academic requirements due to limited access to digital resources.

The appeal comes after the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allowed higher education institutions to fully shift to online classes amid the ongoing oil crisis.

“Sadly, due to the oil crisis we seem to have reverted to ‘pandemic mode’ with the shift to online classes. But that shouldn’t mean that inequities and gaps that were observed during the pandemic should continue to exist,” Bernos said.

He stressed the need for LGUs to step in and assist students who lack the necessary tools for online learning, warning that the current national crisis should not escalate into an education crisis.

“In this regard, I hope that our LGUs can also provide support to students who lack resources to ensure that they are not left behind in their studies. This national crisis must not become an education crisis,” the lawmaker added.

Bernos also recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, several LGUs implemented measures that helped students adapt to remote learning, including free Wi-Fi hubs, internet voucher systems and subsidies, as well as the distribution of tablets, mobile phones, and laptops.

According to him, these interventions had a significant positive impact and could once again be utilized to address current challenges in the education sector.

“I believe that once again, our LGUs can be instrumental in ensuring that the educational crisis we are facing does not deepen further,” he said.

In addition, Bernos urged local governments to explore service contracting agreements in public transportation to help commuters cope with the effects of the ongoing oil crisis.