THE SAMAHAN ng Progresibong Kabataan called on  House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to use his position to advance the interests of the masses, including young Filipinos.

“Ang pagtanggap mo sa iyong puwesto bilang Speaker ng Mababang Kapulungan ay pagtanggap din ng hamon na magsisilbi ka nang walang pagkokompromiso sa interes ng nakararaming naghihirap na mamamayan, kabilang kaming mga kabataang mag-aaral,” Justin Dizon, the group’s spokesman for basic education, said in a statement.

Dizon listed five key demands of his group to improve the state of Philippine education.

These include enacting sufficient funding to fully subsidize internet access and gadgets for students and teachers, legislating the recognition of internet access as a basic human right, and the nationalization of the telecommunications industry.

The group also sought funding for the Special Education program, and support for the call to declare an academic freeze up to January to implement the necessary policy reforms.

Dizon said that students, teachers, and school employees have been struggling because of poor information communication technology infrastructure and education planning as the country shifted to distant learning.

The group urged Velasco to listen to the call of students, teachers, and workers for improved internet connectivity and increased and judicious spending for the education sector.

It said that based on its calculations, the budget for education for 2021 must be increased six-fold to ensure quality and safe education during the pandemic.

The group sought an audience with Velasco to discuss in detail the reforms they seek for the education sector.