A total of 62 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program who are among the first batch of scholars of the Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGPPA) in the CALABARZON Region has graduated from Cavite State University (CvSU) in Indang, Cavite last November 13. Three of the said number graduated with distinction.

The said graduates, all are from the provinces of Quezon and Rizal, finished ladderized courses of BS Agriculture, BS Office Administration and BS Electronics. Majority of them will continue finish their respective bachelor’s degree under the scholarship grant while some will start working to help their families.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa lahat ng tulong para makapag-aral ako sa college. Kung hindi po dahil sa Pantawid at sa SGPPA, hindi ako makakapag-aral at makakatuntong sa college. Magsisikap po akong lalo para makatulong akong maiangat ang buhay ng pamilya ko,” shared Christopher Briones, a resident of San Antonio, Quezon, one of the scholars who graduated with honors.

The other scholars who graduated with distinction are Rochelle Perlas of General Luna, Quezon and Rodessa Aparante of Jalajala, Rizal.

The SGPPA is a project of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that provides grants to members of Pantawid Pamilya households who are high school graduates and are not more than 30 years old. The said grant amounts to Php30,000.00 per semester, which covers tuition, board and lodging and other school-related expenses such as textbooks, uniform and school supplies.

It aims to increase the number of college graduates from poor households and to help them be employed in high value-added occupations upon graduation. In the long term, through employment, the scholars are expected to help their respective families out of poverty and contribute to national development, which is also one of the goals of DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilya program.

This school year, CHED expanded the coverage of the said project. From about 70 student-beneficiaries in 2012, it now covers more than 2,800 college scholars across various state universities and colleges in the CALABARZON Region.

In April 2014, there were 16 Pantawid SGPPA graduates from CvSU.# (with reports from JAAcebes)