Capitol’s scholarship program brings hope to college students

EIGHTEEN-year-old Rosalie Oliveros could not contain her happiness after learning that she was among those granted scholarships by the Cebu Provincial government.

Oliveros, a native of Catmon town in northern Cebu, is a second year college student of Cebu Technological University (CTU) – Carmen, taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education.

She said she decided to avail of the scholarship so she can finish her studies because her family’s income is only enough for their basic needs.

“Dako kaayo ko og pasalamat nga naka-avail sa scholarship. Makahuman na gyud ko og eskwela (I’m so thankful for the scholarship. I can now finish my studies),” she said.

She said her parents are both farmers whose earnings are not enough to fund her education.

At least half of the about 300 applicants were granted scholarships by the province for the second semester of this year.

Provincial Gender and Development officer Heddah Largo said that while they wanted to accept more students under the Paglaum scholarship, budget constraints prevented them from doing so.

“We have a limited budget that’s why we have to limit the number of applicants,” she said.

She said they might accept more scholars to fill in the vacancies left by those who would graduate in March.

It was only this year that the ordinance establishing Paglaum Scholarship was approved and Capitol allocated a P1 million budget for the program.

The Paglaum scholarship is for those students from the province who could not afford to finish their education due to poverty.

Each scholar will receive P10,000 per semester for their tuition in any state university or college and P1,500 monthly allowance. The scholar only needs to maintain a passing grade of 75 percent.