START ASKING CHED, DECS FOR TUITION AID!

It’s less than a month before classes start boys and girls so time to call on the Department of Education, Culture and Sports ( DECS) or the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for assistance.

Not just for complaints but more importantly, for tuition aid or assistance.

As well as clarification on WHAT ARE THEY DOING, or ARE THEY DOING ANYTHING AT ALL, to cope up with, and control the non-stop hikes in tuition and other fees charged by schools.

For example, Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture chair Edgardo Angara has just urged the government to provide bigger funds for the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Schools program or GASTPE.

Angara says GASTPE was created as early as 20 YEARS AGO and was originally given a P600-million subsidy for tuition. But has anyone among you kids, or your parents, heard about this? If yes, how many?

This is one program which both the DECS and the CHED should CONSISTENTLY come out with in media, and in their field offices, to inform and guide the public ON HGW TO AVAIL of it – where to apply, what are the requirements, who are qualified.

But I haven’t heard or read of anything about it – where the money went, the number of beneficiaries so far and the schools they had enrolled in.

Anybody correct ne if I’m wrong.

The one thing that has come out quite regularly in media is the K plus 12 (I hope I got it right) program of DECS which INCREASES the number of years,, and of course the EXPENSES, for elementary and high school education.

But nothing on GASTPE or any other government program on how parents and students can obtain financial aid for tuition for this gimmick.

Why the DECS and the CHED don’t come out regularly in media with tuition or education relief measures like GASTPE is beyond me. What I know is it’s THEIR JOB to help ordinary mortals keep their kids in school, WITH WHATEVER MEANS POSSIBLE!

So whether you’re a parent or a student, DON’T BE AFRAID, OR SHY, to ask. It’s their job to inform you.

It’s YOUR FUTURE, or YOUR KIDS’ FUTIURE, which is at stake, not theirs!

***

Nine of our friends on “A P2-billion question for Dinky Soliman”:

PERRY DIAZ

Sounds like the CCT is one big milking cow. Squeeze Dinky, squeeze till the cow bleeds.

KAT ATIENZA of Paombong, Bulacan

Hmm, no one can be trusted huh. No wonder why the Philippines is just a poor country.

NIQUEKY LAU

Sir Boyet, you’re correct. This has to be monitored. What I’ve heard from the time it was conceptualized and prior to its approval, there are so many grey areas, the most significant one of which is the SIN OF INCLUSION and DELETION.

MARIA CRISOSTOMO IBARRA of Manila

Boyet, tingnan mo naman si Madam panay alahas.

SHEILA ESPERANZA CIELO TILAN of London, United Kingdom

Her name shouldn't be Dinky because she stinks. Soliman has a lot of explanation to do.

LEMWEL SOLIMAN of Gumaca, Quezon province

Not again, Tita Dinky. I smell 2013, (We are not, in any way, related)

JOHN BRUCE of London, United Kingdom

Dinky a stinker? If what was written about her is true, then the person who appointed her must also be held accountable. Who knows, they may have had a memorandum o agreement!!

JULIAN RABAGO of Cavite City

Naggtataka lang ako,Boyet---wala na bang ibang makukuhang DSWD secretary kundi si Dinky lang?

JOSIE PATAWARAN of Hong Kong

Tama iyan. Isa-isa n silang maglabasan para kahit paano e luminis- linis ang ating pamahalaan.

Eight of our friends on “De Lima must explain on Leviste escape”:

IRENE PERGIS of Dammam, Saudi Arabia

May nagpatakas diyan. Nalagyan na naman. Ganun naman ang iisipin ng taumbayan. May kasabwat kaya nakaescape.

YOLANDA HERRING of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales

Kailangan, tanggalin din si Diokno sa puwesto. Bulok talaga ang system sa Philippines.

MANUEL MOGATO of the international news agency Thomson Reuters

Sa Luneta bus hostage incident, hindi lumusot si De Lima kay Chiquito (Manila Mayor Fred Lim). Ngayon kaya? Makikinig uli si PNoy kay Chiquito dahil hindi naman siya ang naiipit na direkta.

JINGZKY MCNACKY of General San Santos City!

Iyong prisons director /warden ang dapat managot. Command responsibility nila yan. Sa pinto ba dumaan? Kung nakalabas hanggang gate ay may pahintulot yan. May grasang ginamit!

ZYRA NIKKA SERGIO IINDAP of Muntinlupa City

Leviste's (departure from the Bilibid is) one of the stupid ideas ever : He has just extend his life in prison.

BORDZ CINCO of Catbalogan, Samar

Malas lang ni Leviste at siya’ng nahuli. Marami pa diyan sa kulungan na nakakalabas.

JOSHUA DAVID

Panawagan kay Pnoy: Dapat alisin sa puwesto si (NBP Director Ernesto) Diokno, iyung warden ng NBP at yung mga jail guard dahil sigurado nalagayan sila ni Leviste. At dapat, ibartolina si Leviste.

JASON JODERIAL of Doha, Qatar

Hay naku, alam mo naman sa Pinas. Pag pera na pinaguusapan, walang mali, lahat tama, lalo na uung mga nakaupo. 30