ILOILO — To level the playing field for aspiring professionals, the provincial government has rolled out a P10,000 financial subsidy to assist its scholars — including Indigenous Peoples (IP), persons with disabilities (PWDs), and children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in crisis — in preparing for their board examinations.
The cash grant is part of a new policy enacted through Provincial Ordinance No. 2024-321 and Executive Order No. 044. It is aimed at reducing financial barriers for graduates of various provincial scholarship programs who are about to take licensure exams.
The program extends to beneficiaries of the Iskolar sang Iloilo Program (ISIP), educational assistance for IPs and PWDs, and the scholarship for OFW dependents in crisis, among others.
The grant may be used for review center fees or for self-review, as long as applicants provide required documentation.
To qualify, scholars must take their board exam within two years after graduation and must be first-time takers.
Applicants must also be residents of Iloilo Province for at least six months and registered voters within the province.
Submission of documents depends on the scholarship type:
* ISIP scholars – Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO)
* IP and PWD scholars – Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO)
* Children of OFWs in crisis – Provincial Employment Service Office (PESO)
By easing the cost of board exam preparation, the subsidy is expected to bolster the province’s pool of licensed professionals and enhance employment prospects for its scholars./PN
