ILOILO – Twenty-eight persons with disabilities (PWDs) dream of earning college degrees. The provincial government is helping them.
This school year 2018-2019 each of these provincial government scholars will enjoy a total of P41,000 financial assistance which include the following:
* P3,500 monthly allowance for transportation; board and lodging; and food
* P2,000 percent semester book allowance
* P2,000 uniform allowance
* P2,500 allowance for research / thesis for graduating students
The 28 PWD schools go to state schools; 21 of them are college freshmen while seven are from second to fourth year already.
Allan Penonal, 23, of Barangay Poblacion, San Rafael, Iloilo said he was thankful for having been qualified for the scholarship program.
A freshman taking Bachelor of Industrial Technology, Major in Electronics Technology at the Iloilo Science and Technology University, Penonal said he hoped to land a job after college so he could help his family.
He was actually going to college already but was forced to stop due to poverty. The provincial government’s scholarship program for PWDs was blessing, he said.
Penonal has six siblings and their parents have no regular jobs.
According to Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office chief Dr. Neneth Pador, the scholarship program aims to give PWDs “equal access to free and accessible college education.”
The 28 scholars are from the following districts:
* 1st District – 6
* 2nd District – 5
* 3rd District – 6
* 4th District – 7
* 5th District – 4
Most of the scholars are taking courses in information technology, teaching and engineering.
Pador said the scholarship program also helps in the PWDs’ “integration into the mainstream of society and equip them with educational competencies to find job opportunities.”
To qualify for the scholarship, a PWD must be registered; a bona fide resident of Iloilo province; graduate of high school; with family annual income of less than P150,000 / indigent; and not more than 40 years old./PN
