BAGUIO CITY – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here would like to clarify the available assistance being provided by the Department to students.
According to DSWD-CAR OIC Regional Director Janet P. Armas, the Department is currently providing educational assistance to indigent students through the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU), the Expanded Students’ Grants in Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Government Internship Program (GIP).
“We would like to inform the public that the educational assistance that we provide through the CIU is not in the form of scholarship unlike the ESGP-PA.” Director Armas added.
Educational assistance provided through the CIU aims to provide immediate educational interventions through financial assistance to indigent students in crisis situation. This means that assistance is provided to students who are currently studying but are experiencing financial difficulties and are threatened to get out of school as a result of such.
On the other hand, the ESGP-PA provides scholarship and stipend to potential scholars entering college level from households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. ESGP-PA is a joint program of the national government agencies, including the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Budget and Management, and Department of Social Welfare and Development, and state universities and colleges (SUCs).
The Government Internship Program aims to extend possible financial assistance to students for their next enrolment; in return, the participants are expected to provide public service as part of the Department.
“Unlike other scholarships, our services and assistance prioritize indigent students because they are among the most vulnerable to not finish their studies”, Director Armas shared.
Individuals who would want to avail of the educational assistance should first visit their respective local social welfare and development offices for proper referral. They may also visit the CIU at DSWD Regional Haven for Women and Girls # 40 North Drive, Baguio City. Among the requirements to avail of the assistance are certificate of enrolment or assessment of fees and photocopy of the identification card of the student, barangay certificate or certificate of indigency and photocopy of the client’s identification card.
Meanwhile, there are already 1,279 grantee slots provided in the region. Under the Students’ Grants in Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA) implemented from 2012-2014, there were 299 grantees of which 30 are in Abra State Institute of Science and Technology, 16 in Apayao State College, 199 in Benguet State University, 9 in Ifugao State University, 33 in Kalinga State University (former Kalinga-Apayao State College) and 12 in Mountain Province State Polytechnic College.
Under the ESGP-PA being implemented 2014-2016, the region has been allotted a total of 980 slots of which 167 are in Abra State Institute of Science and Technology, 30 in Apayao State College, 257 in Benguet State University, 197 in Ifugao State University, 162 in Kalinga State University (former Kalinga-Apayao State College) and 167 in Mountain Province State Polytechnic College.
Since its implementation, there are already 299 graduates assisted by the program. This year, a total of 122 students who have availed of the program have graduated and will be graduating from their respective SUCs.
By Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
