Senator Jinggoy Estrada emphasized that many students struggle with daily expenses, making every peso they save highly valuable.
In line with this, he is pushing for the passage of a measure that would grant underprivileged students a mandatory 5% discount on tuition, food, medicines, school supplies, learning gadgets, and other education-related expenses.
Senate Bill No. 1063, or the “Underprivileged Students’ Discount Act,” aims to ease the daily burden faced by students from low-income families, including those enrolled in technical-vocational courses.
According to Estrada, laptops, tablets, and cellphones are no longer luxuries today, as they have become essential tools for students to keep up with their studies.
He added that food, tuition, and school supplies should never be considered luxuries either.
Because of this, every discount would provide significant relief to students and their families.
Under the proposed measure, the discount would apply to food establishments, pharmacies and drugstores, bookstores, and stores selling school supplies and electronic devices needed for online and distance learning, such as laptops and tablets.
(PHOTO COURTESY: Senate of the Philippines)
