- Leandro Leviste suggests using savings from DPWH budget cuts to fully fund the Tulong Dunong scholarship program.
- Proposal aims to guarantee scholarships for all qualified college students in Batangas’ 1st District.
- Initiative would reduce DPWH project costs, not cut infrastructure scope, ensuring funds still support road work.
Batangas Representative, Leandro Legarda Leviste wants to reallocate part of the budget from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to improve access to college scholarships in 2026. He made the proposal during the appropriations committee hearings, arguing that many eligible students miss out on the Tulong Dunong scholarship due to limited funding.
Leviste noted the challenge of limited fiscal space in the Commission on Higher Education. While CHEd’s scholarship program is ‘a good initiative’, he said only a few beneficiaries receive grants, often leaving many qualified students without help. He believes redirecting funds, rather than reducing the number of scholarships is the solution.
He asked that DPWH’s budget for road and infrastructure projects be trimmed by reducing unit costs, not the scale or number of roads. For example, in his own district, he estimated that adjusting road construction costs by 10‑15 percent could free enough funding to guarantee a scholarship slot for every qualified college student under the Tulong Dunong program, without cutting road kilometers.
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Leviste urged the appropriations committee to approve an amendment to adjust project costs in DPWH allocations. His goal is to ensure all eligible students in the 1st District of Batangas receive educational assistance through CHEd’s program.
The idea reflects broader concerns about fairness and access in education. By tapping savings from infrastructure spending, Leviste hopes to strengthen higher education and reduce barriers for young learners, especially those from districts with fewer resources.
