BANGUED, Abra -- A total of 1,155 college students of Abra are listed in the Joy Education Assistance Program (JoyEAP) of Congresswoman Ma. Jocelyn Valera-Bernos for this school year 2014-2015.
The scholarship program is under the Tulong Dunong Program of the Commission on Higher Education.
Charo Bringas, the staff-in-charge of the District Office of Bernos in Bangued, said most of the grantees come from the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology – Bangued Campus with 584 scholars and the Lagangilang Campus with 385 scholars.
Other colleges in Bangued also have their share of scholars with the Divine Word College of Bangued – 97; Abra Valley Colleges – 51; and the Data Center College of the Philippines – 38.
There are 60 regular scholars of Bernos who have been getting their scholarship grants earlier.
Students enrolled in private colleges are given P6,000 while those in the state colleges are given P4,500 per semester.
Michael Ronald Beramira, chief of staff of Bernos, said graduating college students are given priority in the scholarship grant because they have more expenses in school.
Bersamina clarified though, the applicants from the lower year levels will also be given the scholarship grant provided they are able to submit all the documentary requirements.
She also announced that there were four scholars under the JoyEAP who graduated cum laude last year and were given a cash incentive of P5,000.00 each by the Congresswoman.
Bersamira said all scholars of the JoyEAP who will graduate with honors will be given cash incentives to motivate them to perform their best. (Maritess Beñas)