Bontoc, Mountain Province – In time to pay their tuition fee for the final examinations this December for the 1st Semester of School Year 2016-2017, grantees studying at the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) –Bontoc Campus and Xijen College received a financial aid of P4,000.00 each on December 9, 2016.
A special program of the provincial government, the Mountain Province Student Financial Assistance Program (MPSFAP) caters to poor but deserving students of Mountain Province enrolled at the MPSPC and other educational institutions within and outside Mountain Province. The basis of the selection of grantees is on the financial capacity of parents; hence, the employment and income of parents, the number of children in the family and the current status of the applicant i.e., an orphan and/or a working student, are primarily considered.
Simonette Clyde F. Fang-san of the Office of the Governor said that 311 grantees from MPSPC –Bontoc Campus and Xijen College received their allowance.
Provincial Administrator Amador P. Batay-an who represented Governor Bonifacio C. Lacwasan Jr. emphasized on the importance of education.
“Education is a very important tool in achieving one’s aspiration in life and uplift one’s family in poverty. Like some of you, I was also an academic scholar and it took hard work, dedication and perseverance for me to reach my status in life today,” he stressed.
He encouraged the grantees to do their best in school so they can continuously avail of the program until they graduate. He also advised the beneficiaries to use the money they receive as payment for their unpaid tuition fees and the things they need in school.
In response, the grantees who were grouped per municipality in their presentations thanked the provincial government and the provincial elective officials for their efforts, hence, the financial assistance given to them. The grantees also guaranteed that they will do best in their studies.
Meanwhile, at least 198 college students from Mountain Province studying outside the province have also received financial aid last November. These included grantees studying in Benguet, Baguio City, Pangasinan, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela and Ifugao.
As of this writing, the date for the disbursement of allowance of grantees studying MPSPC- Tadian Campus, University of the Philippines (UP)- Baler in Quirino Province UP-Leyte is yet to be scheduled.
By Alpine L. Killa