A well-known public figure in the Philippines, Chel Diokno, recently advocated for more government funding for education as well as useful student assistance. In order to address what he refers to as a “education crisis,” he argued that the nation should allocate at least 6% of its GDP to education, as advised by UNESCO. Diokno noted that even though tuition is free, many students still drop out because they are unable to pay for everyday expenses like food, transportation, and school supplies.In order to solve this, he put out the "Allowance is Essential" bill, which would give impoverished college students financial aid. Additionally, he emphasized the significance of providing teachers with proper classroom supplies and fair compensation. Diokno's message is significant because it emphasizes practical, day-to-day difficulties that teachers and students encounter rather than only lofty objectives. The suggestions demonstrate a clear awareness of what true change in education requires—equal access, appropriate support, and investment in people, not just systems—even though they are ambitious and would be challenging to fully fund and manage.

REFERENCES:

Akbayan Party. (2025, March 25). Akbayan’s Chel Diokno wants 6% of GDP allocated for education budget. Akbayan.org.ph. https://akbayan.org.ph/news/872-akbayan-s-chel-diokno-wants-6-of-gdp-allocated-for-education-budget

BusinessMirror. (2025, March 29). Akbayan’s Diokno eyes financial aid for college students’ school-related expenses. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2025/03/29/akbayans-diokno-eyes-financial-aid-for-college-students-school-related-expenses

GMA News Online. (2025, March 25). Diokno, Bam Aquino call for increased education budget, expanded free college law. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/936576/diokno-bam-aquino-call-for-increased-education-budget-expanded-free-college-law/story

The POST. (2025, March 30). Partylist group eyes financial aid for college students for school-related expenses. https://thepost.net.ph/news/nation/partylist-group-eyes-financial-aid-for-college-students-for-school-related-expenses

Wikipedia contributors. (2025). Chel Diokno. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chel_Diokno