Senator Bam Aquino secured P500 million in financial assistance for Related Learning Experience (RLE) of nursing and allied health sciences programs students in the 2026 national budget.
This, after the Bicameral Conference Committee approved his recommendation to add P500 million under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the Higher Education Development Program, specifically allocated for Financial Support for RLE Requirements in Allied Health Sciences Programs.
Allied health sciences programs include Nursing, Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Radiologic Technology, Midwifery, Nutrition and Dietetics, Speech-Language Pathology, Human Biology/Pre-Med Allied Programs, Dentistry, Biochemistry, and Psychology.
“Iyong RLE na napakamahal, maraming nagda-dropout na nursing students. Ngayon, may subsidiya, kasama na sila,” Sen. Bam said.
He said the financial assistance is expected to ease the burden on students in allied health sciences programs and their families, help prevent dropouts, and ensure the completion of clinical training.
“Sa pamamagitan nito, mababawasan ang kanilang pasanin sa pag-aaral at makatutulong ito para maabot ang kanilang pangarap na magandang buhay, hindi lang para sa kanilang sarili, kundi para sa kanilang pamilya at mahal sa buhay,” he stressed.
The matter was brought to Sen. Bam’s attention during the campaign for the 2025 senatorial elections by nursing students, who informed him about the high expenses they incur for RLE, which is equivalent to on-the-job training (OJT) and a requirement for graduating nursing students.
“Ipinaabot nila sa atin noon na maraming nursing students ang napipilitang mag-dropout dahil sa mahal na gastusin para sa RLE. Nangako tayo sa kanila noon na gagawan ito ng paraan,” he said.
Under a special provision in the 2026 budget, the amount will be used to provide one-time financial support to cover expenses incurred by students in allied health sciences programs while fulfilling their RLE requirements.
According to Sen. Bam, low-income students will be prioritized through the guidelines to be issued by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to ensure equitable and efficient implementation of the provision.
To institutionalize this, Sen. Bam also filed Senate Bill No. 123, which aims to make RLE free in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs).
Under the proposed measure, nursing students in private universities may apply for Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) assistance for RLE-related expenses.
Sen. Bam’s commitment to push for a higher budget for the Free College Law and the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) was also accomplished after the bicam approved P67 billion for the implementation of Republic Act No. 10931 and increased funding for TES.
The bicam also approved the P1.38 trillion budget for education—the highest in the country’s history—including P68 billion for the construction of classrooms and P25.6 billion for the School-Based Feeding Program.
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