WORK continues for Baguio Pines City Lions Club in helping the needy community amid the pandemic crisis.

This includes giving priority for the welfare of the young generations by providing them scholarship grants under the Search for Outstanding Class Officers (Soco), an annual program of the international service club in partnership with the Department of Education Division of Baguio.

Club past president and SOCO chairperson Viyo Hidalgo said at least six students received scholarship grants during the awarding ceremony held just recently. Three belong to the new batch of outstanding Grade 10 students of the city while the other three were recipients of the scholarship grant last year.

The new batch of awardees is Mary Rose Rojas of Sto Tomas National High School, Carlo Brent Molines of Pines City National High School, and Moises P. Santos of Baguio City National High School. Meanwhile, the last year's awardees who also received cash incentives are Michaela Rojo of Magsaysay National High School, Coleen Evangelista of Pines City National High School, and Angela Tibay of Baguio City National High School.

The beneficiaries are student leaders in all public schools in the Summer Capital of the Philippines.

Under the program, the BPCLC provides the medals, P5,000 per semester for two years to the beneficiaries, and other incentives. Dep-Ed Baguio on the other hand conducts screening and recommends a maximum of eight Grade 10 completers for the grant.

"Through the program, the deserving student class or club officers would be properly recognized and given cash assistance as a way of reducing the effect of risk to the local economy and those who suffered a substantial loss in income and employment," Hidalgo added.

Hidalgo also said the program is part of Lions Club International commitment to serve the marginal sector of the city through its various community service programs such as youth development through character building and citizenship training.

"Let us all work closely together for the youths. Let us not forget that what kind of youths we have today in this new normal, shall be the kind of society we have in the days ahead," Hidalgo stressed.

Assistance for students especially at this time is very essential. May there will more beneficiaries for the SOCO program.

For comments and suggestions, email alahsungduan@gmail.com.