Co-Authorship and Co-Sponsorship Remarks
Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act
Mr. President, with the permission of our good sponsor, Senator Francis G. Escudero, this representation would like to be a co-author and co-sponsor of the “Student Loan Payment Moratorium during Disasters and Emergencies Act” submitted by the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education as Senate Bill No. 1864 under Committee Report No. 26.
The Philippines is often struck by calamities and disasters that not only cause serious disruption in our communities but also result to danger or loss of lives and properties. As a matter of fact, the United Nations population fund ranked the Philippines as the third most disaster-prone countries in the world in the 2018 World Risk Index.
One of the most affected sectors of our community during the occurrence of disasters and calamities are the students. Apart from the anxiety brought about by the concerns to meet the needs of their families, their schedules in schools are disrupted. Hence, their worries are multi-faceted: physical, emotional, psychological, and financial.
Ginoong Pangulo, isa sa mga maliit na paraan para maibsan natin ang pag-aalala ng ating mga mag-aaral at ng kanilang pamilya ay sa pamamagitan ng pagpapaliban sa pagbabayad ng kanilang mga bayarin sa paaralan.
The “Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act” seeks to implement “a moratorium on the enforcement of payment of all fees, charges, and costs relating to the student loans incurred for higher education, and technical and vocational education and training programs”. Such moratorium will be in place for the duration of the state of calamity or emergency and thirty (30) days after the lifting of such state of calamity or emergency.
Isinasaad din po sa panukalang batas na ito na hindi maaapektuhan ng nasabing moratorium ang katayuan ng mag-aaral para sa re-enrollment at graduation. Wala rin pong interes na sisingilin mula sa kanila dahil sa pagpapaliban ng pagbabayad sa kanilang mga loan.
Simple as it may seem, this form of support to our students will redound to their personal welfare and that of their families. It will positively channel their focus to their studies and enable them to flourish in a learning environment free of worries and troubles. With this, we will be able to produce more competent and confident graduates who will, in the long term, be the enablers in achieving our aspiration for a prosperous society.
Maraming Salamat po.