Press Release - Pia's closing remarks on the higher education budget

Actually, Mr President, upon your instructions and in our desire to prioritize education, knowing that in other countries, they are actually able to give even a hundred scholarships because there are takers. So we committed that during this budget, we will facilitate a meeting so the representative of the Hungary Embassy was here today meeting with the SUCs for closer coordination. So that's a commitment we make because, like you said, sayang nandyan na ang offer and contrary to what some students might think, it's [the courses are] conducted in English. So nakakahinayang. But if his honor will recall, on the spot naman po, we were texting already Chairman Popoy De Vera at that time and he also committed that they will ensure that these slots are filled. But that is why we had a representative of Hungary attend today and meet all the SUC presidents. So baka pati ho ang ibang kaibigan natin from other countries, we're willing to do the same for them as well, to coordinate, to support these scholarship programs for our students, which will also strengthen our ties with these other countries. ***

I recall that when we were in Hungary, October 27, ang request is more courses pa in Engineering, so that's where we can help facilitate. Gusto pala natin ng more Engineering, baka naman makapagbigay din sila, so we'll work together.

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On MSA, this was also brought up by the Deputy Minority Floor Leader, the response there is the reevaluation of all the maritime schools are ongoing and there is a three-year deadline but the President actually wants it done in two years.

With regards to the operationalization of the PQF Law, as his honor correctly pointed out, Deped is very crucial here, and as his honor said, the Vice President/Secretary of Deped has been instrumental in ensuring that there are regular meetings.

On this note, before I go to labor education, I will include an often repeated question or query that my brother, Sen. Alan Cayetano, always includes. And this is, how long will it take for the commitment of CHED to reduce the number of years in college? Because that was a commitment made when we passed K-to-12, and I asked this during the hearing, if you