STUDENTS of the Bacolod City College in Negros Occidental who are grantees of the Tertiary Education Subsidy received a total of P9.34 million financial assistance from the national government.

Aside from free tuition and other benefits, some 199 scholars received P20,000 each for a total of P2.38 million for the first semester of Academic Year 2020-2021.

Around 174 other grantees were earlier given P40,000 each amounting to P6.96 million for two semesters covering the AY 2019-2020

Mayor Evelio Leonardia on Thursday encouraged the students to spend their money wisely and not waste it on vices.

“Use your TES correctly, rightly, judiciously and wisely. Not all students will get the same benefits. To those much is given, much is also expected. So do not waste it for gambling,” he added.

Dr. Johanna Ann Rabago-Bayoneta, BCC administrator, said the 119 beneficiaries included 60 from Bacolod while the rest are from various cities and towns in Negros Occidental.

TES is a grant-in-aid program of the government being implemented by the Commission on Higher Education and the Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education under Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education.