The Pampanga provincial government yesterday (June 28) awarded P2,270,000.00 educational financial assistance to the initial 227 college scholars in the province.
Governor Lilia G. Pineda, Provincial Administrator Atty. Andres S. Pangilinan, Jr., Provincial Board Members Monina Laus, Trina Dizon, Fritzie David-Dizon, Nestor Tolentino and Ric Yabut personally handed over the P10,000.00 cash each to the scholars in the awarding ceremonies held at the Benigno Aquino Hall at the capitol compound.
All 227 scholars graduated valedictorians, salutatorians and first honorable mention from public secondary schools in various municipalities of the province.
The educational assistance is stipulated under the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No.484, series of 2011 which provides P10,000 per semester each to valedictorian, salutatorian and first honorable mention graduates and P5,000 each to the second and third honorable mention and the Alternative Learning System (ALS) graduates per semester.
Pangilinan explained that the education cash benefit is guaranteed for a period of two years for as long as the student-beneficiary maintains the required grade of 85 percent for valedictorian, salutatorian and first honorable mention; 80 percent for the second and third honorable mention; and passing grades for the graduates of ALS per semester.
He added further that the pertinent papers of a second batch of scholars are still being processed and their educational financial assistance for the first semester will be released as soon as possible.
In her message to the scholars, the governor encouraged them to maintain their high scholastic records as she expressed optimism for their bright future.
“Once you complete your college education, you will surely be hired by local and national companies and thus, become assets to our province and be able to help your respective families and communities.”
She also encouraged them to give back to and share with other needy students the blessings they are being given now once they are able to do so.
The chief provincial executive said that education, especially among the poor but deserving constituents, is one of the top priorities of her administration.
She also lauded the support of the provincial administrator, Vice-Governor Joseller Guiao and all members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for passing the resolution on the educational financial assistance program of the provincial government.
Jocelyn Requilme, one of the scholars, expressed her gratitude to the governor and the Capitol officials as she said that the cash assistance is indeed a much-welcome help for their family who mainly subsists on the income of her laborer-father. Jocelyn is taking up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at the Mary the Queen Academy in Bacolor.
The father of Jemima Flores, a salutatorian graduate from barangay Concepcion in San Simon, also shared the same feeling of gratitude to the provincial government officials who made possible the financial assistance to her daughter and other top graduates of public schools in the province. Her daughter is currently taking up Education at the Baliwag University in Bulacan.
Another parent admitted that she was pleasantly surprised by the P10,000 cash assistance per semester to her scholar-son who graduated valedictorian and is now currently enrolled at the Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHTVSU). She added that the educational assistance would go a long way in her son’s daily allowance and other necessary expenses for school projects.
In closing, the governor urged the parents to provide the necessary support to their respective children and ensure that they complete their education as indeed they are very lucky to have bright, diligent and intelligent offspring. (Pampanga PIO)
