CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – “We now have free tuition and miscellaneous fees for state universities and colleges, you have no reason anymore not to go to college.”
Thus said Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda during the recent awarding of educational assistance under the Expanded Educational Financial Assistance Program (EEFAP) program to numerous scholars held at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center, here.
The Provincial Government of Pampanga allocated around P11-million for the distribution of educational financial assistance to 2, 377 students at the event recently.
Meanwhile, the lady governor informed the deserving scholars that the Pampanga Capitol approved around P80-million budget in the whole year for their education support.
She added that the budget will go for the allowance of the students because the tuition and other fees to all colleges and state universities in the country was already free.
Vice Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, also dubbed as the “Champion of the Youth,” said that the Capitol will not stop in giving educational support to the students.
A 21-year old scholar named Joshua Gabito, from the town of Sta. Rita and a graduating Civil Engineering student of Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University said that the scholarship helped him and his parents a lot when it comes to financing.
“It was really a big help for me and my family because when it was time to pay my tuition, instead of asking for money from my parents, I would just go to the governor,” he said.
Being a scholar, Gabito assured that he will be a deserving Kapampangan student by doing his responsibilities in maintaining his grades and will give back the favor he received from the government by working in the province once he graduated.
A total of P222, 266, 088.50 was allocated for the educational financial assistance program of the Pampanga Capitol since Governor Pineda started her term in 2010.
Aside from the governor and vice governor, the provincial board members also assisted in distributing the education assistance to the scholars. –Leslie Anne Mahusay • PIO PAMPANGA