✍︎ Czarhytha Ais B. Omaguing
As prices continue to rise across the Philippines, students are among the most affected—yetoften the least heard. In the midst of skyrocketing inflation, minimum wage earners facesignificant challenges as their income quickly disappears by the rising cost of basic goods.While students may not always shoulder household expenses like utility bills, they remainaffected in terms of their dependence on allowances provided by their parents—funds that aretypically just enough to cover food, transportation, and school supplies.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that the prices of essential goods continue toincrease. In fact, inflation for the bottom 30% of income households rose to 2.5% in February2026, up from 1.6% in January, largely driven by higher costs of food and utilities. Astransportation costs continue to surge, students are forced to spend a larger portion of theirdaily allowance just to attend school.
As of March 2026, diesel prices have breached ₱100 per liter, nearly doubling since the start ofthe year, prompting calls for fare increases. These rising costs place additional strain onstudents who rely on public transportation daily. Some even choose to skip meals to affordschool projects or supplies, while others walk long distances to save money for food oracademic requirements.
How can students focus on their education when going to school has become a matter of survival? How can they keep up with their studies when they are forced to sacrifice meals ortransportation? Inflation is no longer just an economic issue—it has become a barrier to education. Students should have the opportunity to focus solely on their studies. Instead, theyare compelled to sacrifice basic needs essential to every learner.
Must students simply accept these conditions, even when access to education is a fundamentalright? If no action is taken, students will continue to bear the burden of an economy they did notcreate. The government, educational institutions, and relevant agencies must take immediateand concrete action to address the rising cost of living and its impact on students. Subsidies,accessible transportation, and increased financial support are no longer optional—they arenecessary.
Education should not come at the cost of a student’s basic needs. If we are to secure the future,we must first ensure that students can survive the present.
Illustration: Chara Maine Cejudo
