Manila: Senator Jinggoy Estrada is advocating for the swift passage of a bill aimed at providing underprivileged students with a mandatory 5 percent discount on various educational expenses, including tuition, food, medicines, school supplies, and learning gadgets. This initiative is designed to alleviate the financial challenges faced by students from low-income families, especially those enrolled in technical-vocational courses.

According to Philippines News Agency, Senate Bill 1063, also known as the 'Underprivileged Students' Discount Act,' is intended to ease the day-to-day financial burden on students. Estrada emphasized the importance of this discount, highlighting that many students struggle with daily expenses, making every peso saved crucial for their education. He also noted the growing necessity of digital devices in the learning process, stating that laptops, tablets, and cellphones have become essential tools for education, not luxuries.

The proposed bill targets students whose families earn less than PHP250,000 annually, equivalent to about PHP20,000 per month. The discount would be applicable to food establishments, pharmacies, bookstores, and electronic stores that sell devices needed for online and distance learning, such as laptops and tablets. It would also cover tuition and other school fees, as well as entrance fees to cultural events like museums and theaters. Working students could qualify for the discount if their combined household income meets the stipulated threshold.

Estrada assured that the proposed discount would not interfere with a student's eligibility for existing scholarships, vouchers, or other educational assistance provided by the government or educational institutions. To ensure compliance, establishments offering the discount could use it as an allowable deduction from their gross income under the National Internal Revenue Code.

The implementation of the bill would involve the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, which would be responsible for identifying qualified beneficiaries and issuing identification cards to eligible students.