Sen. Villar pushes more aid for poor college students

CARIGARA, Leyte, April 1 (PNA) -- Senator Cynthia Villar is advocating that all Filipino families should have at least one college graduate to curb poverty in the countryside.

Villar, the chair of senate committee on food and agriculture, said that college graduates have a very slim chance to suffer poverty considering the job opportunities available to them.

“Statistics show that the possibility of becoming poor for a college graduate is at two percent. Every time our children obtain college degree, the poverty incidence is reduced,” said Villar, who was here Thursday as commencement speaker.

“If they could not find high paying jobs, they have an option to venture into a small business,” she added.

The senator has been pushing for laws that would benefit college students from very poor families.

Among this is the creation of Sugar Industry Fund, with an allocation of PHP2 billion every year starting 2016. About 10 percent will finance college education of children of sugar farmers.

Another is the continuation of Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, which has been setting aside PHP500 million for the scholarships of children of farmers.

Villar also seeks amendments of the Fisheries Code of 1998, which allocate a certain percentage for the scholarship of the children of the fishermen. (PNA)
FFC/SQM/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA/EGR