BONTOC, Mountain Province – Thirty-nine students of the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC) recently received financial assistance under the Student Monetary Assistance for Recovery and Transition (Smart) program of the Commission on Higher Education.
The financial assistance is a one-time fixed grant where each qualified student enrolled in any undergraduate program for academic year 2023-2024 will receive P25,000.
The fund is sourced from the Higher Education Development Fund under the National Employment Recovery Strategy, which aims to increase the success of students to graduate through scholarships despite the effects of the pandemic.
MPSPC President Dr. Edgar G. Cue said the assistance helps foster student engagement and lasting positive change.
He challenged the beneficiaries to use the assistance as a stepping stone toward their educational development, and personal growth.
“As we embark on this activity, let me emphasize that this financial assistance serves as a vital role of education in fostering lasting change specifically to our dear students. Education empowers individuals, creates opportunities, and paves the way for viable growth and development,” Cue said during the distribution of aid on Jan. 15.
Rep. Maximo Y. Dalog Jr. advised the students to spend their money wisely.
“In receiving this assistance today, may you be challenged and inspired to do the best you can in your studies, so that you can make your parents, and those whose initiatives this Smart program was made possible (proud),” he said.
Jolina G. Chopap-ing, one of the beneficiaries, said the cash aid can greatly help her in her studies especially since information and communication technology has been integrated in her course. Through the grant, she will now be able to keep up with the demands of her course.
“Ngayong third year na ako, madalas na ang demo sa amin and due to the integration of ICT sa education, laptop na ang ginagamit sa demo teaching. Almost everybody has a laptop. Napakalaking tulong itong galing sa Smart. At last makaka-avail na ako ng own laptop ko,” she said.
To qualify for the program, the applicant should not be a recipient of any national government funded scholarship or education grant; the combined household gross annual income is not more than P400,000; and should be enrolled in any first undergraduate degree during the academic year 2023-2024. – Valerie Jane L. Taguba
