Samar scholars receive allowances from CHED, solon

By RICKY J. BAUTISTA
May 25, 2006

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  The first batch of college scholars, in which expenses in college are being shouldered by the government and private benefactors, received their regular allowances on Saturday, May 20, this year.

At least 50 out of more than 200 scholars under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) special study grant program in the second district of this province received Saturday morning their regular P1, 500 allowances.

Rep. Catalino Figueroa (2nd district – Samar) personally handed over checks to the first, second and third year college students enrolled at the Samar State University (SSU) in the school year 2005-2006. However, allowances of the ten fourth year college students of the same university, is yet to be released as it was still being readied nowadays, it was learned.

Marilyn A. Mabingnay, assistant head of the second district congressional office, who assisted Congressman Figueroa in distributing the checks, informed that aside from the CHED scholars, the solon also financed 10 more first year college students, in which expenses were taken under his own coffer.

In handing out the allowances, Figueroa inspired the students to study hard citing himself as example. He said that he himself indulged to different hard work while he was studying and he finally succeeded in his chosen field.

"You should study hard, so that someday you may be able to help your family and this suffering country. Young ones like you is the real hope of the next generation," the solon said.

Meanwhile, Mabingnay said that aside from that 70 scholars enrolled this year, the solon’s office and his wife Neliphta, the current mayor of Zumarraga and concurrently the president of Samar’s Mayor’s League of the Philippines are now processing the more than 100 scholars under the CHED scholarship program and the 70 students shouldered by the couple in the next school year 2006-2007.

It was also learned that the congressional office located in Brgy. Mercedes, Catbalogan is still accepting scholars provided that the applicant has an 85 percent grade in high school and must come from an indigent family.

Those lucky scholars were free from all expenses including their board and lodging, books, and monthly allowances while studying in state colleges and universities anywhere they wish to study.