A new bill filed in the House of Representatives seeks to provide every student in the Philippines with a ₱1,000 monthly allowance to help cover food, transportation, and school supply expenses.
Authored by Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, House Bill 27 proposes that students receive the allowance as long as they maintain at least 80% class attendance.
Leviste emphasized the importance of universal coverage to avoid social tension among students. “To ensure efficiency, this should go to all students,” he said in a radio interview.
The proposed program would require around ₱300 billion annually. Leviste, son of Senator Loren Legarda, argued that the expense is not a cost but an investment in the nation’s future. “If we make education a true priority, this will boost our economy in the long run through more productive citizens,” he added.
He also stated that borrowing funds to support the initiative would be “justifiable” given the long-term benefits.