AS the country reeled from the devastation of six powerful typhoons, Sen. Bong Go pushed the passage into law of a bill that seeks to defer payment of student loans.
Go was a co-author and co-sponsor of Senate Bill (SB) 1864, or the proposed Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act, which is awaiting President Marcos’ approval.
The proposed law seeks to provide financial relief by suspending student loan payments during and after disasters, allowing students and families to rebuild their lives.
If signed into law, SB 1864 will defer the loan payments of students residing in areas declared under a state of calamity or emergency. It will apply to loans for higher education and technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs.
“This is not just about policy. This is about survival. Every day without a moratorium is a day of pain for the youth who are struggling to recover from the tragedy,” Go said.
The senator also championed various scholarship programs of the government in line with his mission to provide inclusive and quality education.
He co-authored and co-sponsored RA 11510, which institutionalizes the Alternative Learning System (ALS) to improve basic education delivery to underserved and disadvantaged students; RA 11984, or the No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act, which prohibits educational institutions from denying students the right to take exams due to unpaid fees; RA 12006 or the Free College Entrance Examinations Act, waiving entrance exam fees at private higher educational institutions for qualified top students; as well as RA 11997, or the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, which increases the teaching supply allowance of public school teachers.
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