NASUGBU, Batangas — Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste recently proposed a bill to provide a P1,000 allowance for all Filipino students. This bold idea sparked discussions about the government’s ability to fund such a program given the country’s limited fiscal space. However, Leviste confidently addressed these concerns by emphasizing the need to reduce government wastage to free up resources.
During a press briefing, Leviste explained that the government can finance the P1,000 allowance for students by cutting unnecessary expenditures within the existing budget. “Congress should focus on reducing wastage instead of immediately increasing the budget and worsening the deficit,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino. “If this proposal requires about 4 percent of the national budget, surely we can find that amount through savings.”
Cutting Wastage to Fund Education
Leviste stressed that reallocating funds from inefficient government projects can cover the costs of the student allowance without adding to the country’s deficit. “Here in Batangas’ first district, we plan to use savings from certain government projects prone to wastage. If we can do it locally, it’s possible on a national scale,” he added.
He urged lawmakers to consider foregoing budgets allocated to projects that often result in wasteful spending. Leviste believes that even if this proposal slightly increases the deficit, investing in education yields the highest return for the country’s future.
Investing in Education as a Priority
“If a representative would only forgo the certain budget made available to him, we will have funds,” Leviste said. He argued that education in the Philippines remains significantly underfunded, making this investment crucial. According to him, additional funding can directly address many educational challenges, unlike other sectors where increased budgets don’t always solve problems.
Leviste also pointed out that people will support programs that demonstrate clear benefits. He said, “When people see that funding education helps students, they will prioritize this over other types of ayuda. This educational assistance incentivizes attendance and focuses on effective support rather than broad, less-targeted aid.”
Demonstrating Feasibility Through Local Action
To prove his proposal’s practicality, Leviste distributed school supplies and P1,000 cash grants to 150,000 students from kindergarten to senior high school in Batangas’ first district. He funded this initiative personally, using proceeds from selling his controlling stake in Solar Philippines New Energy Corporation to the Manila Electric Company.
Leviste acknowledged that while P1,000 may not cover all schooling expenses, it will noticeably help with transportation costs, especially since some students travel one to two hours to reach their schools.
Supporting Students Nationwide
Leviste filed House Bill No. 27, proposing a P1,000 cash grant for all Filipino students, from kindergarten through college, regardless of socioeconomic background. The aid aims to offset costs such as food, transportation, and school supplies, while also encouraging consistent attendance, which would be a requirement to receive the grant.
“This program is a low-hanging fruit that can improve educational outcomes by increasing capitalization in the sector,” Leviste concluded. “Unlike other sectors where problems persist despite budget increases, education benefits directly from added funding, improving the future of our youth and the country.”
For more news and updates on education reform and student support programs, visit Filipinokami.com.
