MANILA, Philippines - About 216,000 students in the country are currently juggling school and work, according to latest data from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The figure is about 8% of the total number of college students in the country.

CHED said working students today are mostly into food service, entertainment and sales, apart from their usual stints as library and research assistants.

"Dahil sa financial crisis, kailangan nila ng extra income," said lawyer Julito Vitriolo, officer-in-charge at CHED's office of the executive director.

Vitriolo added that these students are forced to work because of higher commodity prices and tuition fees.

Jerry Rontal, who delivers oxygen tanks in a hospital. Rontal is currently taking up Criminology, and needs to pay a tuition fee of P24,000 for this semester.

The amount does not include expenses for books, uniform and public transport.

"Gusto kong umangat sa hirap. Kakayanin po, kailangan po eh. Kung hindi ako kikilos, walang mangyayari," Rontal said.

Despite their efforts, the pressure to balance work and school is just too much for many working students.

The CHED said that only 50% of working students get to finish college, as many cannot cope and cannot concentrate on their studies, while some have poor health, while others give up because of insufficient funds.

CHED advised working students to get jobs that are not that demanding, and that are more closely related to their courses. -- Report from Bernadette Sembrano, ABS-CBN News