Senate passes Presidential Merit Scholarship bill on final reading

. MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Monday passed on final reading a measure seeking to establish the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program (PMSP). Senate Bill No. 2410, or the proposed Presidential Merit Scholarship Act, was approved with a 19-0-0 vote during Monday’s plenary session. The bill is among the education reforms identified for priority action by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac). Article continues after this advertisement Once enacted into law, it will provide educational support to academically outstanding Filipino senior high school graduates. Scholarship benefits for eligible students will include tuition and other school fees, as well as allowances for books, cost of living and transportation. READ: Villanueva sponsors bill making presidential scholarships permanent The bill also requires scholars to render return service in the Philippines equivalent to the number of years they received scholarship assistance, beginning within one year of graduation. Explaining his affirmative vote, Sen. Joel Villanueva, sponsor and principal author of the measure, said, “The timely release of scholarship benefits is not a request; it is an obligation of the government.” He pointed out that late assistance to students may result in a missed semester or a lost opportunity. /mcm Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.