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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Legarda Leviste laser-focused on passing bill providing P1,000 monthly allowance to all students

Legarda Leviste laser-focused on passing bill providing P1,000 monthly allowance to all students

Published Jun 30, 2025 04:57 pm

At A Glance

  • Neophyte solon Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste showed tremendous commitment on day one for the passage of his pet measure, House Bill (HB) No.27, or the proposed National Student Allowance Program (NSAP).
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Neophyte solon Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste showed tremendous commitment on day one for the passage of his pet measure, House Bill (HB) No.27, or the proposed National Student Allowance Program (NSAP).
HB No.27 was the only bill filed by Legarda Leviste on Monday, June 30, the first day of the filing of measures in the 20th Congress.
Unlike a lot of congressmen Legarda Leviste carried out the filing himself and queued with other House employees.
''If you want to get something done, you have to focus on one thing,'' the son of Senator Loren Legarda told House reporters while holding up a copy of HB No.27.
Under the proposed National Student Allowance Program (NSAP), Filipino students enrolled at all levels, including kindergarten, elementary, high school, and college, shall be entitled to an allowance of at least P1,000 at the start of every school year and up to every month of the school year.
It's an ambitious bill to say the least. For reference, Legarda Leviste said there are an estimated 27 million Filipino students in th current school year.
''Kung mangyari ang isang panukalang batas na ito ngayong Kongreso, napakalaking bagay napo yan. Kahit yan lang po ang mangyari, ako po ay very satisfied na sa naging accomplishment natin ngayong Kongreso,'' the 32-year-old solon said.
(If this proposed bill is passed during this Congress, that alone would already be a huge achievement. Even if that’s the only thing that happens, I would already be very satisfied with what we’ve accomplished in this Congress.)
The bill says that Filipino students shall reecive the allowance subject to being enrolled in school and satisfying the minimum attendance requirements for classes so far during a given month of at least 80 percent or as otherwise determined by the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).
''All Filipino students who satisfy the foregoing conditions shall be eligibie for the allowance. This allowance shall be in addition to and shall not replace or diminish any other public or private scholarships, allowances, or financial aid extended to the student,'' read the proposed statute.
''The amount necessary to carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be included in the respective budgets of the departments and agencies concerned in the annual General Appropriations Act. The DepEd, CHEd, and DOF (Department of Finance) may explore new revenue sources and loan mechanisms and shall accept donations or grants to fund the NSAP,'' it added.
Legarda Leviste believes in his proposal so much that he says it's worth being indebted for.
I''to po ay dapat lang suportahan kahit na mangutang pa ang ating bansa para palakihin pa ang suporta para sa edukasyon. Dahil ang mga estudyante ngayon ang magbabayad naman po ng buwis sa mga darating na panahon,'' he said.
(This deserves to be supported even if it means our country has to borrow more so that we can further expand support for education. It's because today’s students are the ones who will be paying taxes in the years to come.)
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