MANILA, Philippines -- As problems on higher tuition and other fees, poor facilities and other enrollment-related issues were expected to crop up anew with the opening of classes, a partylist group on Monday launched hotlines where students could seek assistance.

Dubbed “Kabataan Balik-Eskwela Hotlines,” the hotlines would provide students, parents, and even teachers means to forward their complaints.

“The complaints we will gather will be collated, investigated and be brought to concerned agencies for them to immediately address. This is our way of empowering our students by giving them venues to air their concerns this school opening,” Kabataan party list Representative Raymond Palatino said.

For reports, complaints and concerns, students may contact the Kabataan Balik-Eskwela hotlines at 09192865175, 09236410117 and 09151883494. They may also upload complaints, photos, videos and other multimedia content at www.kabataanpartylist.com/hotline or email them to kabataanhotline@gmail.com.

Palatino said that response to the hotlines was overwhelming.

“Barely a few hours since we went online, we have already received a steady stream of complaints from concerned students,” he said.

Palatino said among the complaints from public high school students on unexplained miscellaneous fees were:

Payatas High School (Judge Cecilia Munoz Palma HS): PTA Fee - P150, ID Fee - P60, Test Paper Fee - P20, Red Cross Fee - P40, School Publication Fee - P90, S.O. Fee - P50, Step Fee - P30, or a total of P440

Culiat High School: PTA-P470, summer classes fees of P990, or a total of P1,460

Quirino High School: P140 per workbook, P100 Red Cross Fee, P10 per Numbo Card, or a total of P250

University of the Philippines Integrated School: PTA Fee - P1,000, Work books/instructional materials fees - P1,072, Guidance Fee - P60 and for incoming Grade 10 students’ Alumni Fee for Grade 10 students - P300 and Graduation Fee -P2,000, or a total of between P2,132 to P4,432

New Era Public High School: PTA and other fees-P400

Palatino said he would to file a resolution urging the Department of Education to investigate and stop the imposition of fees in public schools.