GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The provincial government of South Cotabato is targeting to cover a total of 34,525 public elementary and high school students this year for its expanded educational assistance program.
Jerry Gamo, chief of the South Cotabato Barangay Affairs Unit, said Tuesday the enlistment of the scholars are ongoing in coordination with barangay councils, elementary and secondary schools within the province’s 10 towns and lone city.
Gamo said the assistance program, which is a component of the provincial government’s Kabugwason-Paglaum Scholarship Program, covers students from elementary to the Senior High School levels.
Under the program, he said each elementary and high school scholar will receive educational grants of PHP500 and PHP800, respectively.
Gamo said the financial assistance will cover for all school and miscellaneous fees of the students for the current school year 2018-2019.
He said the funds will be released by the local government to concerned elementary and high schools. Interested applicants may refer to their respective barangay officials regarding the availment of the assistance.
“We’re currently fast tracking the identification of the scholars to facilitate the release of the assistance funds by November,” he said.
Gamo said the provincial government has allotted a total of PHP21 million for the program’s implementation this year.
He added that the funds included the PHP5 million supplemental budget approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or provincial board.
BAU is already processing the release of an initial P7 million to the validated scholars as of last month, he added.
The Kabugwason Educational Assistance Program is a flagship initiative of the local government that provides educational financial assistance to elementary and high school students from marginalized families.
It is part of the mechanisms adopted by the provincial government to ensure that schoolchildren would be able continue their education until high school.
The local government also offers scholarships and educational grants technical-vocational courses as well as college and postgraduate degrees. ( Frances Kristine Alvero/PNA)
