Despite the COVID-19 pandemic that affected and altered almost all aspects of our lives, and caused some delay in the processing of necessary documents, Iskolar ng Bataan (INB) a program under the Office of the Provincial Governor continues to perform its mandate.
A brainchild of the late Cong. Tet Garcia and continued by Governor Abet Garcia, the program, since its implementation in 2005 has been providing financial assistance to approximately 40,000 college students to acquire quality education and ultimately become productive members of their respective families and the community.
Vice Governor Cris Garcia, the original coordinator of the INB program personally oversees the refund distribution to a total of 8, 136 beneficiaries, that started last February 9 at the Bataan People’s Center and later on transferred to Lou-Is Restaurant; with emphasis on the strict observance of safety and health protocols.
Each beneficiary receives P5,000 per semester, however those from the Municipality of Morong receive P6,000 while those from the City of Balanga receive P7,000.
As a gesture of appreciation and to further motivate the diligent beneficiaries, the top 30 students and top 1 per municipality, as well as the top 1 in the province received additional cash incentives amounting to P5,000 during a simple awarding ceremony last February 19.
At the rate the INB program is going, the late Cong. Tet’s desire to see at least one professional in every family in Bataan is taking a concrete shape.
