File photo of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. MALACA脩ANG PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday signed two laws that will boost government assistance to calamity-affected families and students.
In a simple ceremony in the Malaca帽an Palace, Marcos signed the Ligtas Pinoy Centers Act and聽the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act.
The Ligtas Pinoy Center Act mandates the creation of fully equipped evacuation centers that can provide safer temporary shelters to calamity-hit individuals and families.
鈥淲e do not wish for the frequent usage of such facilities and can only pray that we have fewer calamities. Nonetheless, we need to ensure that the evacuation centers sufficiently respond to the needs of our people affected by calamities and other such emergencies,鈥� Marcos said in a speech he delivered during the event.
鈥淚nvesting in these climate-resilient facilities must be the norm, for we are not only protecting the people鈥檚 lives but also capacitating our local government units to respond, to reduce, and to manage the risks of disasters,鈥� he added.
READ: Safety of students, personnel in typhoon-hit area a DepEd concern
Marcos assured the Department of Education that schools will soon be used solely for learning with the signing of the new law.
鈥淲ith the enactment of this law, we heed that appeal and commit to only using our schools for the promotion of our students鈥� welfare and development of the education system,鈥� he said.
The Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act, on the other hand, will halt student loan collections and suspend student loan penalties or interest during and after calamities.
鈥淭he benevolence of this law allows the disaster-affected students and their families to have breathing space as they recuperate and rebuild their lives. It is our hope that this law will help lessen the financial burden off our students鈥� shoulders as they continue their schooling,鈥� Marcos pointed out.
The president then tasked the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide comprehensive support to students and make sure that financial challenges do not prevent them from completing their education.