Aquino government vows to continue providing more scholarship programs for the poor

The Aquino government vowed to continue providing more scholarship programs for the poor but deserving students, saying that education remains one of the priorities of the government to help support the country's economic growth.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang on Tuesday that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) offers various scholarship programs aimed at providing better opportunities for the Filipinos, especially the youths.

"For instance, we've got scholarships for bright Filipino students whose general weighted average is 90 percent and above. The financial benefit is P30,000 per annum. We grants-in-aid for bright Filipino students whose general average is 85 to 89 percent and the grant is P15,000 per annum," Lacierda said.

"Then, we also have national integration study grant program for members of the cultural minority groups; selected ethnic group education assistance program for the members of the hill tribes," he said.

"Meron po tayong OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process)-CHED study grant program intended for former rebels and the legitimate and legitimized dependents which expands access to college education opportunities," Lacierda stressed.

The CHED offers Grand-In-Aid or "Tulong-Dunong", under the DND-CHED-PASUC (Department of National Defense-Commission on Higher Education- Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges) Study Grant Program, which is intended for dependents of killed-in-action (KIA), battle-related Complete Disability Discharged (CDD), and Combat and Active Military Personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The commission gives education benefit to children of KIA-CDD-Combat in order to contribute to the well-being of the country's soldiers by ensuring their children's education.

The CHED also provides the Student Loan Program with the component of Study-Now-Pay-Later Plan (SNPLP), according to Lacierda.

The program is designed to promote democratization of access to educational opportunities in the tertiary level to poor but deserving students through financial assistance in the form of an educational loan.

"Then, we have study grants for poverty alleviation. We have the Bangsamoro special grant-in-aid program and other CHED programs," he said.

The CHED is mandated to provide these scholarship programs pursuant to RA 7722, otherwise known as the "Higher Education Act of 1994."

Lacierda said the government vows to implement more reforms in education by increasing the budget. (PNA)