Gov. Abet approves Iskolar ng Bataan grant increase

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – Cognizant of today’s high cost of living, not to mention increase in tuition fees, miscellaneous fees, cost of books and other school supplies, the Iskolar ng Bataan Committee members, during their May 12, 2016 meeting held at the Bulwagan ng Bayan, this City, recommended that the present scholarship grant amounting to P3,000.00 per college student per semester be increased to P4,000.00. This was subsequently approved by Governor Albert S. Garcia.

Also stipulated in the Iskolar ng Bataan Committee Resolution No. 1 Series of 2016 are the following: said increase will take effect starting School Year 2016-2017 onwards, covered are all the scholars of the Provincial Government of Bataan under the “Iskolar ng Bataan Program”, except the scholars of the City of Balanga and the Municipality of Morong.

Right now, the scholars of Balanga City and Morong are receiving P6,000.00 and P 5,000.00 respectively.

To date, the program has approximately 8,000 beneficiaries (all college students). According to Mr. Ramon Canas, program committee member, “if we will include the beneficiaries of the Gurong Iskolar, Aeta Scholars, and PUP Mariveles students, the figure will reach to more than 12,000, considering that validation is still going on”.

A brainchild of 2nd District Enrique “Tet” Garcia when he was still Governor of Bataan, he saw this program as an effective tool in the realization of his noble dream for his fellow Bataenos, “One professional in every family”. Nowadays, his dream is no longer a dream but a lasting legacy.

For SY 2016-2017, validation of grades of program beneficiaries started last May 23 and will end on June 3 at the Bulwagan ng Bayan 2, also in this City.

Composing the Iskolar ng Bataan Committee are Ms. Ma. Cristina Garcia – Vice-Chairperson; Dr. Delfin Magpantay, Mr, Ramon Canas, and Mr. Ramon Garcia – Members.