DepEd asked by Gatchalian to hasten handing out of financial aid to students

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to speed up the release and distribution of financial aid allotted by the extended Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 to students in basic education. 

Maraming mga mag-aaral ang matagal nang naghihintay ng tulong pinansyal upang maibsan ang kanilang pangamba pagdating sa mga pangangailangan sa edukasyon,

said Gatchalian, chair of the Senate basic education committee. 

Dapat nating bigyan ng prayoridad ang mabilis na pagpapamahagi ng ayudang ito upang maiparating na natin ang tulong na matagal na nilang hinihintay,

he said. 

Gatchalian made the call after the recent release of a P5,000 grant to 54,761 private school students in higher education who have unpaid tuition and miscellaneous fees. The grant was distributed under the Bayanihan 2 for Higher Education Tulong Program (B2HELP) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which had a P300 million allocation. 

DepEd was not immediately able to comment on the matter. 

Under Bayanihan 2, P600 million was allotted as financial aid to qualified students in private and public elementary, secondary, and tertiary education whose families are facing financial difficulties following the imposition of quarantine measures and the resulting economic downturn. These subsidies shall be used for unpaid tuition for the school year (SY) 2019-2020 or for the payment of tuition fee for SY 2020-2021. 

Qualified students in basic education include those who are not covered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Listahanan, the Education Service Contracting program, and the Senior High School Voucher Program.