March 29, 2024

BONTOC, Mountain Province – One hundred six college students received their financial assistance from the local government on Feb. 24.
The students received the P5,000 aid covering the first semester of school year 2019-2020. 
Mayor Franklin Odsey encouraged the grantees to do their best in school to continuously avail of the program until they graduate. 
Odsey said that the increase of the financial assistance from P2,500 in the previous years to P5, 000 is the result of the harmonious relationship between the executive and legislative body. 
Councilors Jerome Tudlong Jr. and Alsannyster Patingan also encouraged the students to strive for excellence in their studies and advised the grantees to use the money for their unpaid tuition, boarding house rent, and the things they need in school. 
The municipal council increased the assistance to P5,000 per semester after it found out that the amount given to every grantee is lower than what is given by other agencies, which makes them apply to other agencies or institutions that offer assistance.
There were 121 scholarship slots for the first semester of school year 2020, but only 106 students have passed the screening.
Under the ordinance, each barangay shall be allocated a minimum of five slots with an additional one slot per 500 population.
Labor Employment Officer II Jenelyn Caluza, who is also in charge of the program, said that the application to avail of the financial assistance for the second semester is ongoing. 
Those qualified to avail of the program are college students who are enrolled in the tertiary level educational institutions within the jurisdiction of Bontoc.
Those enrolled in schools outside Bontoc may qualify as long as their school is an extension of the educational institution located within Bontoc. 
Caluza said that interested students who want to avail of the program should submit letter of intent; certificate of indigency from the barangay; certification that the applicant and his/her family is indigent and a resident of such barangay; certificate of enrollment or other proofs of enrollment in a tertiary educational institution, with a minimum load of 15 units except for graduating students who only have less than 15 units remaining to complete their degree; final grades in the immediately preceding semester or summer before the application and/or report card for fresh graduate from high school; and proof of registration as voter of the municipality if over 18 years old. – Alpine L. Killa