MANILA — Senator Bam Aquino has appealed to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to allow nursing students receiving assistance under the Free College Law to use their Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) for expenses related to their Related Learning Experience (RLE), saying the move would ease the financial strain that forces many students to drop out.

Aquino raised the proposal during the CHED budget plenary session, noting that RLE requirements — equivalent to on-the-job training for nursing students — remain among the most burdensome costs for poor but deserving learners.

“Alam natin na ang ating nursing students may added burden sa kanila which is the RLE… sometimes iyan pa yung rason kung bakit sila nagda-drop out,” said Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

He stressed that allowing TES to cover RLE expenses is consistent with existing TES guidelines, which provide financial aid for food, books, living expenses, and other education-related costs for disadvantaged students enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), and private institutions.

Aquino proposed including a special provision in the 2026 national budget to authorize the use of TES for RLE costs.

“Ibukas natin itong TES sa mga nursing students para sa RLE… once we indicate that it can be used for RLE, I think it will be a big help for our nursing students,” he said.

The issue was raised to Aquino during the 2025 senatorial campaign, when nursing students flagged the high expenses required for their RLE.

Aquino has filed Senate Bill No. 123, which seeks to make RLE free in SUCs and LUCs. Under the bill, nursing students in private universities may apply for TES support specifically for RLE-related expenses.