A total of 2,845 members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program household-beneficiaries in the CALABARZON Region are now in college through the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) Expanded Student Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (E-SGPPA).

These college students are enrolled for the school year 2015-2016 in different partner State Universities and Colleges in the region including the Southern Luzon State University (Quezon), Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU), Batangas State University (Batangas), Cavite State University (Cavite) and University of Rizal System (Rizal).

The E-SGPPA aims to increase the number of college graduates from poor households, such as beneficiaries of DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilya program. Through this, they’ll be able to help themselves be employed in high value-added occupations and help improve the living condition of their respective families and contribute to national development.

The E-SGPPA grant is provided to high school graduates who are members of a Pantawid Pamilya household and are not more than 30 years old. Beneficiaries are provided a grant of PhP30,000 per semester that covers tuition, board and lodging and other school-related expenses such as textbooks, uniform and school supplies.

According to Imelyn Formentera, an E-SGPPA scholar enrolled in Cavite State University, this scholarship grant made her dream of going to college a reality.

“Pangingisda po ang ikinabubuhay namin sa Quezon. Walo po kaming magkakapatid at hindi po talaga kaya ng pamilya namin na makapagpaaral sa kolehiyo kaya nga po nagpapasalamat ako sa scholarship na ito. Pinagbubutihan ko po ang pag-aaral ko para maka-graduate ako at makahanap ng maayos na trabaho para matulungan ko ang pamilya ko,” Formentera shared.

Formentera, a resident of Real, Quezon, is now a graduating student of Bachelor of Science in Office Administration. She is one of the 138 beneficiaries who were the first batch of E-SGPPA scholars when it was implemented in 2012.

Like Formentera, BS Business Administration student John Xyril Aliling, an E-SGPPA scholar enrolled in Batangas State University, share his gratitude to the program for helping poor families like them.

“Kung wala po ang Pantawid Pamilya at E-SGPPA, hindi po ako makakatuntong sa college. Napakaganda ng opportunity na naibigay sa amin kaya mag-aaral kami nang maayos para maabot namin ang aming mga pangarap,” he said.#