Senator Angara to file a bill that assists Filipinos pursuing a college education overseas

Senator Sonny Angara is set to file a bill that will assist Filipino students pursuing a college education overseas.

Senator Angara said in a press release he wants to expand the scope of Senate Bill 961 or the proposed Pensionado Act, which he filed in 2019, “to cover high school graduates.”

He noted that the high cost of education overseas prevents Filipinos from pursuing it.

“Once they have earned their degrees, these scholars can bring back home what they have learned and use these for our benefit in a form of knowledge transfer,” said Angara.

The proposal will mandate the Philippine government to extend support to outstanding college graduates “who are employed and wish to pursue advanced studies overseas.”

The Pensionado Program will be established under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which shall gather all fellowships, scholarships, and training grants sponsored or extended by foreign governments and agencies and local organizations “intended for advanced studies in international centers of advanced learning, scholarship, and research.”

The bill will also create a national secretariat that will “assist in the negotiations with the sponsors of fellowships, scholarships, and grants, and provide continuing assistance to the scholars.”

“The bill provides for the selection of 24 fellows annually—three from each priority discipline or industry field of the eight vital disciplines or areas of specialization identified by the CHED, in consultation with the National Economic and Development Authority as frontiers or new areas essential for pushing the economic and social development thrusts of the country,” said Angara.

Grantees will also receive assistance in the form of three years leave with pay, including allowances and other benefits, round-trip airfare and other expenses required for foreign travel, a clothing allowance, a monthly stipend, money for books, instructional materials, and research allowance, as well as health, travel, and insurance fees.

“The cost can be shared by the foreign government, institution or organization and the national government. We shouldn’t see this as an additional expense but rather an investment in our youth,” said Angara.

Furthermore, the bill also seeks to create a national network of specialized institutes for advanced studies, which will “provide returned scholars an office, laboratory, library and conference facilities for their continuing activities.”

SOURCE: Business World