Gonzales’s scholars reach 30,000

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Indigent students benefiting under the "Iskolar ng Dong" program of third district Representative Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. has now reached 30,000.

Gonzales, increasing the number of beneficiaries from 27,000 in 2012, said the new increase in the number of scholars is part of his commitment to expand the scholarship program for indigents here.

The "Iskolar ng Dong" program requires no maintaining grade requirement and does not compel students to do tasks to maintain the benefits from the program.

In line with this, Gonzales had distributed new scholarship slots to 17 college and 81 high school students in Barangay San Felipe here over the weekend, with a funding allotment of more than P132,000.

This brings the total number of scholars here to more than 200 students.

Gonzales has been sending hundreds of indigent students in the City of San Fernando to school.

"We will be opening more slots subject to available funds. Education should be made accessible to more indigent students. Ours is more of an assistance program but we hope that we could help in reducing the cost of education for these beneficiaries," Gonzales said.

Gonzales added that the scholarship program will not change its policy on the grade requirement.

"Our only requirement is that students should have the drive and the commitment to finish their studies," Gonzales said.

Aside from this, Gonzales sends some 800 plus scholars at the Don Honorio Ventura Technological University (DHVTSU) Mexico Campus and hosts training for work programs in cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The "Iskolar ng Dong" program covers elementary, pre-school, college, high school and technical-vocational programs. In 2012 alone, Gonzales had allocated some P14 million for his various scholars here.