LUNA, Apayao – ASAP grantee Jean Marifel Sagisi, 22, recently graduated with flying colors at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Batac, Ilocos Norte on July 10, 2024.
Apayao Student Assistance Program (ASAP) is a special program of Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. aimed at helping yApayao youth become professionals who shall later become helper of economic development in their families and in the province.
Sagisi is a native of Poblacion West Flora, Apayao. During her university years, she struggled in making ends meet, especially during the pre-pandemic period. Only her part-time work was making it possible for her to go on with her schooling, as her father, at that time, was battling stage 5 chronic kidney disease.
Later, she found out about the Apayao Student Assistance Program (ASAP) of the provincial government and applied, and was listed as one of the beneficiaries which offers PhP7,500 per semester to student beneficiaries.
From 2020 up until she finally finished her studies, Sagisi was provided with the financial aid and through Sagisi’s perseverance and dedication, she eventually completed her university degree as was one of the 538 students who graduated with Latin honors out of 3,110 MMSU graduates.
She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration major in Human Resource Management. She has been a consistent honor student from preschool to college and a consistent academic scholar of the said university.
In an interview, Sagisi expressed her gratitude to the provincial government for providing her financial support.
“Iti uneg ti uppat nga tawen ko a nagbasa iti kolehiyo ket dakkel a pinagyaman ko ken dagiti programa ti gobyerno ti Apayao ta adda latta iti pondo da a para kadagiti ubbing/yApayao a naayat nga agbasa,” Sagisi said.
“I hope the government continues this initiative, so that future yApayao students can pursue any course they choose without worrying about finances. Soon, when they become professionals, they will be able to give back to our province,” she added.
The provincial government assures students that the assistance program under the Project ASENG shall continue and not only ASAP scholars will benefit from it but all yApayaos. By Ginalyn Gapusan
