AT LEAST 10,000 scholars in Bataan Province will be given ATM cards which they can use to withdraw their financial assistance.

“No need for the scholars to open their bank accounts for their ATMs ; it will be the provincial capitol itself that will open an ATM account for them,” Ramon R. Cañas who is in charge of the scholarship program said.

“It is a cash-less transaction; the Iskolars ng Bataan will just wait for their allowance to be automatically downloaded on their ATMs,” he added.

A report from the Bataan Peninsula Times said that the roster of scholars had been approved by Governor Albert ‘Abet’ Garcia under the province’s “Iskolar ng Bataan” program.

The report said that the local government pushed through with the grant of the cash  even if the province was cash-strapped.