A lawmaker on Monday urged local government units to provide support to college students encountering difficulties in meeting class requirements due to a lack of access to digital resources.

This, after the Commission on Higher Education allowed higher education institutions to shift fully to online classes amid the ongoing oil crisis.

“Sadly, due to the oil crisis we seem to have reverted to ‘pandemic mode’ with the shift to online classes. But that shouldn’t mean that inequities and gaps that were observed during the pandemic should continue to exist,” Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos said in a statement.

“In this regard, I hope that our LGUs can also provide support to students who lack resources to ensure that they are not left behind in their studies. This national crisis must not become an education crisis.”

She noted that during the pandemic, various LGU interventions helped students cope with the shift to online learning.

These include the establishment of free Wi-Fi hubs, internet voucher systems and subsidies, and the distribution of tablets, cellphones, and laptops, among the key interventions various LGUs have implemented that have had a positive impact on online learning.

“I believe that once again, our LGUs can be instrumental in ensuring that the educational crisis we are facing does not deepen further,” Bernos said.

The lawmaker has also called on local governments to explore service contracting agreements in public transport for the benefit of commuters. (PNA)