BPI Foundation, the social development arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, is offering scholarship to the children or close relatives of medical frontliners who were diagnosed with or who succumbed to Covid19.

“As a tribute to the heroic efforts of our medical frontliners who passed away or contracted the virus in the line of duty, we are offering to support the college education of their qualified next of kin,” BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo said.

Through its “Pagpupugay” program, the foundation will select 10 scholars this year who will be given a 5-year scholarship. The foundation will support the chosen scholars annually until the completion of their chosen course. Each scholar will get P100,000 per academic year to cover tuition and miscellaneous expenses.

The foundation adjusted the eligibility of applicants to cater not only to the kin of frontliners who died because of Covid19 but also to those who contracted severe cases of the virus.

If a medical frontliner has a family, one of his children is the priority beneficiary. If the frontliner is single, the beneficiary can be the next of kin up to the 3rd degree of consanguinity.

Next of kin of doctors, nurses, medical technologists, community health workers, administrative, utility, support services personnel in health care facilities are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

To qualify, students must have and maintain a General Weighted Average of 85 percent or its equivalent and/or prevailing University standards for the previous school year (for incoming 1st year) or semester (for incoming 2nd year to 5th year).

To support more students, BPI Foundation is seeking more partnerships with schools, universities and colleges all over the country which offers four to five year courses. Interested schools may send their letter of intention to BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen L. Cammayo at [email protected] not later than September 12.

“Pagpupugay” program has partnerships with Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University (Manila), Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology, Saint Louis University – Baguio, Silliman University, University of Santo Tomas (Manila), University of San Carlos, University of the Philippines (Manila), and Xavier University – Cagayan de Oro, Mapua University (Manila and Makati), Malayan Colleges of Laguna and Mindanao, National Teachers College, and University of Nueva Caceres.

Interested students may apply directly to the mentioned schools until September 19, 2020. Successful applicants will be contacted by the foundation by the end of the month. For more information, visit www.bpifoundation.org.