Former President, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Arroyo and her son, Camarines Sur Rep. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo, are insisting that government must maintain an institutionalized mechanism for continuing education to help strengthen its workforce through a competitive compensation package.
“This is to prevent brilliant human resource and talented fresh graduates from shying away from government service,” said the Arroyos, authors of HB 6227, said.
“Our nation puts premium on education because it gives our people, especially the youth, the opportunity to improve their lives.  We consider education a passport to success in the future,” the Arroyos said.
Stressing the importance of education, the authors explained there is a great need that “we empower our people and should institutionalize and strengthen an existing program for free education to deserving government employees both national and local.”
“This bill is being introduced as a humble attempt to professionalize the government sector further,” Dato said as he urged the passage of their proposed “Tulong Aral sa Kinabukasan Act of 2012.”
The bill provides the grant of scholarships in the skills and training level, as well in courses leading to an academic title and graduate school programs to deserving government employees.
Likewise, he said the program presents an advantage for government as it concentrates on core areas of studies which may be the demand of the future.
The proposed statute provides for short-term training grants, baccalaureate degree grants, and graduate school grants.
For this purpose, Arroyo said the existing Local Scholarship Program (LSP) and the Local Scholarship Program for Skilled Workers in Government (LSPSWG) being undertaken and handled by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) shall be incorporated into the “Tulong Aral sa Kinabukasan” program under the proposed Act.