CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Some 1,338 scholars of the provincial government thanked Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda for investing in their college education.
This was gleaned after Governor Delta and Second District Board Member Mylyn Pineda-Cayayab distributed a total of P5.6-million financial assistance to beneficiaries at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center on July 8.
Of the said number, 88 were Aetas while the remaining 1,255 belong to indigent students from different municipalities in the province.
Governor Delta said the program is part of the commitment of his administration to help uplift the lives of the aetas.
“Pagpatuloy niyo lang ang pag-aaral niyo, mga anak. Nandito lang ang Kapitolyo nakaantabay hanggang makatapos kayo,” Gov. Delta said.
For her part, Board Member Cayabyab stressed the important role that the provincial government play in the lives of the students.
“Tinutulungan natin ang mga kapatid nating Aeta na magbago ang pananaw nila, na meron pang buhay sa labas ng bundok, at tutulungan namin silang makamit kung ano man ang pangarap nilang marating,” she said.
Each beneficiary received cash assistance worth P4,000. Meanwhile, Aeta scholars who belong to the said program were given assistance amounting from P5,000 to P10,000 each to cover their semestral tuition fee and boarding house expenses.
Rolan Papatco, an incoming 2nd-year Medical Technology student from the College of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the continuing support given by the provincial government for their education.
“Ang medicine po ay mahirap as a course and financially. Pero naging posible dahil naging bridge ko po sina Gov. Delta at Nanay para makamit ko to. Sabi ko nga wala akong karapatan mapagod dahil ang mga nagpapaaral sa ‘kin ay hindi sumusuko. Gusto ko pong magleave ng footprint na ang mga Aeta, kaya ring kumuha at magtapos ng medisina to end discrimination sa tulong ni Gov. Delta,” he shared.
The said students are part of more than 14,000 beneficiaries of the Educational Financial Assistance Program (EFAP) of the provincial government for the first semester of the year.