President Rodrigo Duterte said he wants to raise the scholarship fund for children of overseas Filipino workers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic needs to be increased from P1 billion to P3 billion.
President Duterte raised this possibility after Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III admitted that the current P1 billion education subsidy was “inadequate” to help all displaced OFWs’ children.
If we’re going to help, let’s go all out). If I will give you P3 billion, would you think that it would make a difference in the number of students of OFWs now enrolled in schools?” Duterte asked Bello in his prerecorded meeting with Cabinet officials in Davao City on Monday night.
Bello, in response, said the P3 billion scholarship fund would be a “big help” to college-level children of displaced OFWs.
Duterte then asked Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea if it would be possible to release the amount needed for the education subsidy.
Medialdea said the executive department will discuss the matter with the Department of Budget and Management.
If more funds were needed, Duterte said he will find a way to look for sources of funding.
He said he wanted to somehow ease the burden being carried by OFWs.
“I will try to go as far as P3 billion in the—God willing another time so that we can make an impact on the hardships of the OFW,” he said.
Duterte also directed Bello to ensure that only students who had the drive to finish their studies would avail of the education subsidy.
Those who don’t want to study but keep enrolling, you will be monitored),” he added.