A total of 1,500 students from the Panay provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras were granted financial assistance under a state-funded program that aims to help struggling students cope with the challenges of earning a higher education diploma.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday led the distribution of cash aid to students under his Integrated Scholarships and Incentives Program (ISIP) for the Youth initiative, which was held at the West Visayas State University Medical Center Cultural Center in Iloilo City.
“Education, be it college or vocational, is one of the most effective weapons we can give our young people that they can use to face life’s challenges. As a father and also a businessman, we believe that education is our key to success,” said Romualdez in an event organized by House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin.
The program is being implemented in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to support poor but deserving students to overcome their financial challenges in pursuing quality education.
ISIP is part of President Marcos’ Bagong Pilipinas” campaign. Under this program, each of the 1,500 beneficiaries in the Panay provinces coming from some 32 educational institutions will receive P2,000 in cash aid.
The fund will be coursed through DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. The student beneficiaries will be enrolled under CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program (TDP), where they can get scholarship assistance per year amounting to a total of P15,000, or P7,500 every semester.
Stressing that education is the “great equalizer,” Romualdez encouraged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the program, which could help uplift not only their own lives but also contribute to the nation’s growth.
“The only request of the government is that you work harder in your studies despite the scarcity you are experiencing… Please study well, work hard, study hard. I assure you success is at hand,” the Leyte representative told the students.
Aside from the cash aid, the student beneficiaries also have assured slots under the Government Internship Program (GIP) after graduation, and their unemployed parents or guardians may also be enrolled in the DOLE-TUPAD Program.
The ISIP for the Youth program targets tertiary and technical-vocational education students, as well as those enrolled under the Alternative Learning System.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “1,500 students from Panay provinces get cash aid from state-funded initiatives”