CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, July 2 (PIA) – Some 500 poor but deserving students enjoy education support as scholars of the local government unit (LGU) of Paranas, Samar with 200 more added this school.
Because of the LGU scholaship, more and more Paranas youth are graduating from degree courses and becoming professionals.
Paranas Mayor Felix Babalcon said that the program started in 2008, and has then produced almost 200 graduates and board passers.
Paranas scholarship coordinator Mary Jean Cartel said that the first batch of the graduates was in 2012. For SY 2013-2014, three scholars graduated with honors as cum laude.
These brilliant scholars were identified as Jefrey Baccol from Barangay Pabanog; Jennelyn Cabrigas from Barangay Apolonia and Luchie Baccol from Paranas Poblacion.
Cartel explained that since 2008, the LGU has accepted 100 applicants every year for scholarship grants, but only those scholars who are able to maintain their grades enjoy the grant until they finish their course.
She said that the Paranas LGU shoulders tuition fees of not more than P 5,000.00 per semester based on the brackets defined in the scholarship policy. The scholars pay for the excess or other school obligations.
The scholars enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Paranas LGU to solidify their engagement. They also attend a quarterly meeting to thresh out problems that may nullify their scholarship.
In an interview with Mayor Babalcon, he stressed that his administration prioritizes education , hoping that the municipality will have plenty of professionals who would eventually become partners of the local government in its development efforts. (PIA 8-Samar with Avha Ebalde)
