Senator Jinggoy Estrada is seeking to institutionalize a mandatory 5 percent discount on key education-related expenses for students from low-income families under a proposed measure aimed at easing the cost of schooling.
Estrada said Friday that Senate Bill 1063, or the “Underprivileged Students’ Discount Act,” would cover tuition fees, food, medicines, school supplies, and learning devices such as laptops and tablets.
He said the measure is intended to provide direct financial relief to students, including those in technical-vocational education, who continue to struggle with daily expenses.
“Maraming estudyante ang kapos sa panggastos araw-araw kaya bawat pisong natitipid nila ay napakahalaga,” Estrada said.
He added that essential learning tools such as gadgets have become indispensable in modern education and should no longer be considered luxuries.
“Sa panahon ngayon, hindi na luho ang laptop, tablet, o cellphone. Kailangan na ang mga ito para makasabay sa pag-aaral,” he said, adding that basic needs such as food and school supplies should also be made more affordable.
Under the proposal, qualified beneficiaries would include students from households earning below P250,000 annually, or around P20,000 monthly.
The discount would apply to food establishments, pharmacies, bookstores, and stores selling school materials and digital devices used for learning. It would also extend to tuition and other school fees, as well as entrance fees to museums, theaters, and cultural activities.
Working students may also qualify, provided their household income meets the required threshold.
The bill states that the discount will not affect eligibility for existing scholarships, vouchers, or other government and institutional education assistance programs.
To encourage compliance, businesses that grant the discount may treat the amount as an allowable deduction from gross income under the National Internal Revenue Code.
The Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will be tasked to identify qualified beneficiaries and issue identification cards under the proposed system.
File photo: Philippine News Agency
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