CANDABA, Pamp. — Mayor Rene Maglanque distributed on Friday a total of P5.4 million for the educational financial assistance of at least 1,000 poor but deserving students who are pursuing their high school and college education.
The scholarship funds came from the municipal government in the amount P3,240,000 and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through the Special Program for the Emplyment of Students gave an additional P2,160,000.
Mayor Maglanque said his administration is giving priority to the education of the poor but bright students of the town than wasting the municipal funds into non-productive activity.
The mayor reiterated that it is better to feed the minds of the young Candabenoes than to entice their eyes in a two-day festival only.
The mayor said the distribution of educational financial assistance is now a regular program of the local government which abides the systematic and legal procedure allowed by the Commission on Audit (COA).
“Nanggaling ako sa isang simpleng pamilya pero nangarap ako na magkaroon ng magandang buhay. Ang pagtatapos ko sa kolehiyo ang aking naging sandata at naging puhunan ko para marating ko ang aking kasalukuyang estado ngayon sa buhay (I came from a simple family but I dreamt of a better life. Finishing my college education is my only weapon and investment to achieve my present status in life),”he said.
He explained that students who finished college education have a better chance to become more successful in life.
Aside from education of the youth, it can be observed the rapid development of Candaba in terms of infrastructure and local economy for the past two years.
The municipal government under the stint of Mayor Maglanque has accomplished the following: construction of the state of the art municipal building comparable to other first class towns and cities and still now undergoing building expansion; opened the newly constructed Municipal Infirmary Hospital and is now Philhealth accredited; the construction of national road from Poblacion to Barangay Pasig is underway and is expected to be finished on November; the public market is under renovation, the Candaba Trading Center in front of the municipal hall is under construction, supermarket like Puregold is soon to rise after it signed a memorandum of understanding with the municipal government; new barangay high schools had been opened to accommodate the rising number of students; barangay roads, covered courts and other facilities were constructed, among others.
Mayor Maglanque said he cannot do and deliver these accomplishments alone without the full support of Governor Lilia Nanay Pineda, Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, Congressman Juan Pablo Rimpy Bondoc, national line agencies such as DILG, DSWD, DOLE, DA, DAR, his friend-senators and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan.
The awarding of educational financial assistance was witnessed by 4th District Rep. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc, Former DPWH Undersecretary Rafael Cunanan Yabut, Butil Party List Representative Agapito Guanlao, Board Member Nestor Tolentino, Arlene Tolentino, chief of Labor and Employment Office of DOLE, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, Jing Grupo, municipal PESO manager, other municipal department heads and employees, barangay captains and scholarships.
BY JOEL P. MAPILES
