Executive Secretary Ralph Recto – Photo from Ralph Recto/Facebook
A government scholarship program designed to reach students in every barangay could become a permanent source of college assistance as the Marcos administration pushes for its institutionalization.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the proposed Expanded Presidential Merit Scholarship Program would provide a more equitable system of educational assistance by assigning scholarship opportunities across communities nationwide.
The initiative is already being implemented in Bukidnon through the Socio-Civic Projects Fund. In Quezon town, 155 graduating college students representing all 31 barangays received Php 20,000 each to help cover expenses during their final year in school.
Across Bukidnon, the program is set to assist 2,320 scholars from the province’s 464 barangays, with five beneficiaries allotted per village. Assistance distributed in Quezon totaled Php 6.2 million.
The effort could eventually extend to more than 45,000 barangays nationwide if Congress approves legislation making the scholarship system permanent.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said the proposed measure had cleared second reading in the Senate and was awaiting third and final reading. The measure seeks to establish fixed scholarship slots rather than leave access to the program dependent on changing government priorities.
Institutionalizing the initiative would allow educational assistance to continue beyond the current administration, providing a regular avenue of support for qualified students from financially disadvantaged families.
Quezon Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III said the municipal government also provides educational assistance to students. Combined with the national initiative, the town now has 250 scholars from various barangays.