Senator Bam Aquino, CHED launch aid program for 19,000 nursing, allied health students

Senator Bam Aquino and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced a new financial assistance program that provides a one-time grant of ₱25,000 to approximately 19,000 students enrolled in nursing and allied health sciences.

The funding is intended to help cover Related Learning Experience (RLE) expenses.

The initiative comes after Aquino earlier pledged during the 2025 senatorial campaign to address complaints from nursing students over the high costs associated with RLE, a required component of allied health programs similar to on-the-job training.

While serving as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Aquino secured P500 million under the 2026 national budget to support the program.

Aquino joined CHED officials during the launch of the online application portal for the Allied Health Experiential Assistance for Deserving Students (AHEAD) Grant. Present during the event were CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis, Commissioners Dr. Desiderio Apag III, Dr. Ricmar Aquino, Dr. Myrna Mallari, and Dr. Michelle Aguilar-Ong, along with 10 nursing students from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina (PLMar), who participated in a ceremonial enrollment through the portal.

According to Aquino, the program—created through CHED Memorandum Order No. 11, Series of 2026—aims to lessen the financial strain on students and their families amid rising living and transportation costs.

“Malaking tulong ito sa ating mga estudyante na naka-enroll sa allied health and medical-related programs na nahihirapan kung saan kukuha ng pambayad at napipilitang mangutang para sa RLE,” Aquino said.

“Makakagaan din ito sa gastusin ng kanilang mga pamilya, lalo ngayong mataas ang presyo ng bilihin at produktong petrolyo. May magagamit na silang panggastos para sa iba pang mahalagang pangangailangan ng pamilya,” he added.

Aquino also said he would push for a provision in the proposed amendments to the Free College Law that would formally allow RLE expenses to be covered under the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).

“This is our amendment. We included to allow TES for RLE na special para magiging mandated na rin po iyong pagpondo nito. We will fight that every year, itataas natin iyong budget para mas maraming estudyante ang makakakuha ng tulong,” he assured.

The senator likewise commended CHED for quickly implementing the program, from issuing the guidelines to establishing the online application system.

Dr. Agrupis said the AHEAD Grant would cover students enrolled in programs such as Nursing, Medical Technology or Medical Laboratory Science, Midwifery, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Radiologic Technology, Pharmacy, Speech Language Pathology, Public Health, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Optometry, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

"Ang AHEAD Grant ay isang konkretong hakbang upang matiyak na mas maraming kabataang Pilipino ang mabibigyan ng pagkakataong makapagtapos, makapaglingkod, at maabot ang kanilang mga pangarap. Itong AHEAD program na ito, through the initiative of our beloved Senator (Aquino), we will be including this in our expanded memorandum of agreement with the Department of Health," Dr. Agrupis said.

Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro also welcomed the initiative.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo kay Senator Bam at CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis para sa malaking tulong na ito para sa nursing students ng PLMar," Teodoro said.

PLMar officials Vice President Jacqueline Calaycay and former president Joselito Rivera also attended the event.

Aquino is also seeking to institutionalize free RLE in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) through Senate Bill No. 123. Under the proposal, students enrolled in private universities may also apply for TES assistance to help cover RLE-related expenses.

The senator earlier helped secure a P1.34-trillion allocation for the education sector under the 2026 national budget, which Aquino described as the largest education budget in Philippine history.

-Paraluman News