A TOTAL of 1,500 students from the provinces of Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz and Guimaras were granted financial assistance under a revolutionary program that aims to help struggling students cope with the challenges of earning their much-coveted higher education diploma.

House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez led the distribution of cash aid to students under his initiative, the Integrated Scholarships and Incentives Program or ISIP for the Youth, which was held at the West Visayas State University Medical Center Cultural Center.

“Ang pag-aaral po, maging college man o vocational, ang isa sa pinakamabisang sandata na maaari nating ibigay sa ating mga kabataan na magagamit nila sa pagharap nila sa hamon ng buhay. Bilang isang ama at isa ring negosyante, naniniwala po tayo na ang edukasyon ang ating susi sa tagumpay,” said Romualdez.

The program, with Romualdez as the main proponent, is being undertaken in collaboration with Department of Social Welfare and Development and Commission on Higher Education to support poor but deserving students overcome their financial challenges in pursuing quality education.

Romualdez said ISIP program is part of President Marcos’ ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ campaign, where government aid and programs reach those who need it the most.

Each of the 1,500 beneficiaries in the Panay provinces coming from some 32 educational institutions will receive P2,000 in cash aid through DSWD’s AICS program and they will be enrolled under CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program where they can get scholarship assistance per year amounting to a total of P15,000, or P7,500 every semester.

Stressing that education is the great equalizer, the Speaker encouraged the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the program which could help uplift not only their own lives but also contribute to the nation’s growth.

“Ang tanging hiling lang ng pamahalaan sa inyo, lalo sana kayong magsumikap sa inyong pag-aaral sa kabila ng kakapusan na inyong nararanasan. Tuparin ang pangarap ng inyong mga magulang at isama ang inyong mga komunidad sa inyong pag-unlad,” he asked.

“Please study well, work hard, study hard. I assure you success is at hand,” he further said

Aside from the cash aid, the student beneficiaries also have assured slots under the Government Internship Program after graduation, and their unemployed parents or guardians may also be enrolled in the DOLE-TUPAD Program.