LEYTE Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez is batting for the passage of a bill to grant full scholarship to undergraduate poor senior citizens who would like to earn a four-year degree in any state college or university.
Romualdez, House committee on government enterprises and privatization vice chairperson, said the government had the responsibility to provide quality education to all people as a constitutional right to education.
“To this end, a four-year college scholarship grant shall be provided to deserving indigent senior citizens, who have not yet attained a college degree and have satisfied the requirements for admission in a state college or university,” she said.
Romualdez, wife of Philippine Constitution Association president Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, is a registered nurse and the Bb. Pilipinas International 1996.
Under her measure, a senior citizen shall be given automatic full scholarship in the form of free tuition in any state college or university.
An applicant for such scholarship must be able to present a proof of indigency to be issued by the municipal social welfare or the office of the senior citizens affair.
The Commission on Higher and Technical Education shall be tasked to promulgate the necessary implementing rules and regulations of the measure.
“We have to provide the elderly citizens with full assistance support to the improvement of their total well-being, still motivate them to contribute to nation-building and foster their capacity. The senior citizens are integral part of Filipino society,” she said.