MANILA, Philippines – Vice presidential candidate Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said on Saturday, February 26, that he and presidential bet Vice President Leni Robredo plan to give students P300 monthly internet allowance should they win the elections.

“‘Yung Robredo-Pangilinan tandem ay mayroong plano para sa edukasyon immediately pag-upo. ‘Yung 90 billion, isang gadget kada estudyante, isa ‘yan, para talagang mabigyan ng sapat na suporta. Pangalawa, P300 Wi-Fi load allowance kada isang buwan habang sila ay nag-aaral,” Pangilinan said during the CNN Philippines’ Vice Presidential Debates on Saturday.

(The Robredo-Pangilinan tandem has plans for education immediately after we assume office. There’s P90 billion – one gadget for every student, that’s one, to give proper support. Second, students will be provided P300 Wi-Fi load allowance per month while they are in school.)

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Pangilinan made the statement when asked by CNN Philippines’ anchors Rico Hizon and Ruth Cabal, “How can you make the internet more accessible and affordable to students?” The same question was given to other vice president candidates (READ: No student left behind? During pandemic, education ‘only for those who can afford’)

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III did not answer the question directly but said that a total of P18 billion is needed to improve internet connectivity nationwide and to provide free internet access to everyone.

Deviating from the topic, Sotto went on to say that he would push for the inclusion of a drug abuse resistance program in the curriculum of grades 5 to 7 students.

“Meron lang akong gustong idagdag sa educational system natin. Dapat ‘yung grade 5, grade 6, grade 7 merong drug abuse resistance education program. Pagtuntong nila ng 13 years old, alam na nila [na] masama ‘yong droga, masisira ang buhay ko diyan, masisira pamilya ko, masisira kinabukasan ko, ganoon dapat ‘yan eh. We will be saving more than 50% of these young boys na sila ay malulong diyan,” he said.

(I just want to add something in relation to our education system. Grades 5, 6, and 7 should have a drug abuse resistance education program. When they turn 13, they already know that drugs are harmful, and that their lives and their families will be ruined. We will be saving more than 50% of these young boys from drug addition.)

Sotto and his running mate Senator Panfilo Lacson have been advocating for eradication of drug problems in the country. Sotto used to chair the Dangerous Drugs Board.

Meanwhile, vice presidential candidate physician Willie Ong said that he and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, his presidential candidate, would lay out fiber optic internet connection throughout the country. Fiber optic internet speeds are about 20 times faster than regular internet cable.

But none of the candidates really provided concrete plans on how to solve students’ problem with internet access. Advocacy groups and education experts have pointed out that the problem goes beyond internet access itself, as some areas don’t even have access to electricity.

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The CNN Philippines’ Vice Presidential Debates was attended by seven candidates. Aside from Pangilinan, Sotto, and Ong, vice presidential bets Rizalito David, Manny SD Lopez, and Carlos Serapio also took part in the debate. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza skipped the event. – Rappler.com