More schools for Ched grant included

BENEFICIARIES of the Student Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA) in the Cordillera Administrative Region can now enroll in five more state colleges and universities closer to home, the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) said.

During the midterm meeting of SGP-PA grantees, Christopher Depnag, Education Supervisor II of Student Services and Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program of Ched, said there will be an additional five educational institutions where the student grantees can now enroll themselves to earn their degree.

With the Ched’s approval, SGAP-PA scholars now have the option to study at Abra State Institute of Science and Technology, Ifugao State University, Kalinga-Apayao State College, Mountain Province Polytechnic State College and Apayao State College aside from the Benguet State University.

The Benguet State University in La Trinidad, Benguet was the first institution to accept SGAP-PA grantees. Since then, SGP-PA grantees from all over Cordillera enrolled only at BSU for their tertiary education.

Meanwhile, the addition of other five schools will take effect for academic year 2013-2014.

The head for the Scholarship Services of BSU, Ms. Maricris Lad-ey, expressed mixed emotions for the new development since some of the scholars will now move to the other identified State Universities and Colleges.

She, however, said that BSU is still happy that the grantees can now study at their respective provinces and stay with their families.

The Student Grants in Aid for Poverty Alleviation (SGAP-PA) is a convergence program between the Ched and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide tertiary scholarship grants to eligible Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (also the conditional cash transfer program) beneficiaries in the region.

At present, there are 191 SGP-PA scholars enrolled at the Benguet State University for academic year 2012-2013. (Jomel Anthony V. Gutierrez)