Cagayan de Oro City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Commission on Higher Education here has opened 1,706 college scholarship grants for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) beneficiaries.
Cherrylou Acobo, focal person for Students’ Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA) of DSWD Northern Mindanao, disclosed that the slots is an additional opening for the program which aims at contributing to the national government’s thrusts in effectively addressing poverty alleviation by increasing number of graduates in higher education among poor households and to get these graduates employed in high – value added occupations in order to lift their families out of poverty and contribute to national development.
Of the number of slots, Acobo revealed that CHED is now processing 3,584 applicants, who are Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries coming from the different towns and cities of the region.
She added that applicants will be ranked according to their respective ratings after taking an examination administered by state universities and colleges accredited by CHED.
“Those who will be included in the first 1,706 ranking will be admitted for further screening process of their chosen SUCs,” Acobo said.
Meanwhile, CHED also announced on the additional accredited SUCs which can accept and enroll SGP-PA grantees for school year 2014-2015. These are Bukidnon State University in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology in Claveria, Misamis Oriental; Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte; Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology in Tangub City, Misamis Occidental; and Camiguin Polytechnic State College in Mambajao, Camiguin.
As of second semester of school year 2013-2014, Northern Mindanao has 212 scholars enrolled at Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) campuses here and in Panaon, Misamis Occidental and at Central Mindanao University in Maramag, Bukidnon.
A student – beneficiary is entitled to a maximum of P60,000 grant per school year. It means that the scholar will receive P10,000 a semester for tuition fee (based on the national average tuition fees of SUCs) and other fees; P2,500 for textbooks and other learning materials; and P3,500 a month for board and lodging, transportation, clothing, health and medical needs, basic school supplies and other related costs.
A scholar has to carry a full load per semester as prescribed in the curriculum and finish within the required period of the program; maintain a satisfactory academic performance in accordance with the policies and standards of the SUC; render a return service of two years after graduation in the Philippines except for highly critical courses determined by local industry and government services; and adhere to terms and conditions as stipulated in the contract. (Written by Oliver Badel Inodeo, Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer)
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