Sen. Loren Legarda is pushing for the passage of the proposed Student Internship Allowance Act in the Senate to help students manage expenses related to internship programs.
According to Legarda, internship programs play an important role in tertiary education because they serve as a bridge between classroom theories and real-life application in the workplace.
The senator said that in several degree and technical-vocational programs, completing an internship is not optional but part of the mandatory academic requirements before students can graduate from college and apply for jobs.
However, Legarda noted that for many Filipino students coming from low-income households, internships also bring additional financial burdens due to transportation, food, uniforms, documentation and other incidental expenses.
To address the issue, Legarda filed Senate Bill No. 2102, also known as the Student Internship Allowance Act.
Under the proposed measure, qualified students may receive a one-time student internship allowance worth P10,000.
The bill states that beneficiaries must first be certified by their Higher Education Institution or Technical-Vocational Institution before they can qualify for the financial assistance.
Students are also required to complete the required internship hours and submit all necessary post-internship reports, evaluations and supporting documents.
Legarda emphasized that internship programs are essential in preparing students for future employment and professional work environments.
The proposed measure seeks to provide financial support to students while they fulfill academic internship requirements required by their respective schools and training institutions.
The bill is currently being pushed in the Senate as lawmakers continue discussions on measures related to education support and student welfare in the Philippines.
