Education measures top Senate approved bills

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino students will benefit most from the education measures that the Congress approved this year.

"The education sector and the students are the biggest winners in the laws that we have passed, considering their immense benefits to countless out-of-school Filipino youth," Senate President Franklin Drilon said.

Drilon noted that that the Senate has approved 44 measures of national importance since the 16th Congress convened in July 2013, 21 of which became laws.

According to Drilon, three of the approved laws seek to widen access to education by eliminating major deterrents.

One of the laws that were approved is Republic Act 10648 or the "Iskolar ng Bayan Act" which gives scholarship grants to public high school students who belong to the top 10 palaces of their graduating classes.

READ: Congress approves free tuition in SUCs for honor students

"Through the enactment of these laws, we are confident that we will finally remove the traditional barriers to the effective delivery of education throughout the country, namely poverty, distance and age," Drilon added.

The Senate also approved RA 10650 which institutionalizes open distance learning and RA 10647 which strengthens technical-vocational education in the country.

"These laws we passed reflect the government's commitment to address the most basic and pressing concerns of our countrymen which include education, health, social reform package, consumer protection, and our ability to prepare for the dangers of upcoming emergencies," the Senate President said.

Two more pro-student laws are awaiting for approval, Drilon said. These include a bill establishing the Open High School System in the country and a bill that prevents commercialization of student-athletes.