More than 12K studes graduated as Iskolars from 2005-2015

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – A total of 12, 465 students graduated under the Iskolar ng Bataan Program for the last eleven years, statistics revealed.

Since 2005, the year when the scholarship program started thru the initiative of former Gov. Enrique T. Garcia, Sr. (now Cong. Tet), the province has allocated P20 million funding for the scholarship scheme plus the P10 million earmarked by former Cong. Albert S. Garcia (now Gov. Abet), primarily apportioned for the benefit of more than 6, 000 scholars to cater the poor but deserving students across Bataan.

“We started in 2005 giving the scholars P2,500 per semester, but in 2009, naging P3,000 na, and this year, our congressman is planning to pass a resolution na maging P4,000 na per sem,” Ms. Ma. Cristina M. Garcia, scholarship coordinator of Iskolar ng Bataan, said in an exclusive 1Bataan interview.

From enrolment to employment

Ms. Garcia also revealed that, “we have an on-going project in coordination with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO)-Capitol, para yung mga graduates natin ay mas magkaroon ng opportunity na ma-i-prioritize at mabigyan agad ng trabaho.”

The scholarship coordinator also added that the governor’s vision when this program was conceptualized in 2004 was to have at least one professional for every family.

From a Iskolar’s viewpoint

“Sa tulong ng Iskolar ng Bataan, nababawasan yung expenses ko sa tuition every semester at naging motivation din ito para sa pag-aaral ko, dahil kung magpapabaya ako, mawawala sakin yung scholarship ko. Ngayon ay nagtatrabaho na ako sa Parañaque City in SPI Global Company (a Business Process Outsourcing Company),” shared Chinkee Pebble F. Alonzo, one of the beneficiaries of the program who graduated last school year 2011-2012.

“Sa akin naman ay malaki din ang naitulong nito. Every semester ay may dagdag na pang tuition. Kung wala ang Iskolar ng Bataan at ang suporta ng pamilya ko, baka hindi ako nakatapos ng pag aaral,” acknowledged Joel M. Perez, also one of the Iskolars.

Iskolar ng Bataan is a scholarship program of Gov. Abet, Cong. Tet, Mayor Joet and Mayor Gila Garcia and the Sangguninang Panlalawigan, bearing the theme: “Their success is our future, let us help them build our future.”