By Niña Christelle Sumintac, StratCom Correspondent

Congressman Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Araneta Marcos III led the tertiary subsidy distribution from CHED Tulong-Dunong Program (TDP) and CHED UniFAST Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to various college student beneficiaries for the first semester of SY 2024-2025, yesterday, September 19, at the MMSU Laboratory High School Gymnasium. 

A total of six hundred and thirty beneficiaries of TDP and TES received their stipends. 244 of the recipients are MMSU students and the rest are from Data Center College of the Philippines - Laoag, Northwestern University, Northern Christian College, and Divine Word College of Laoag.

“Umaasa po kami na ang TDP at TES ay makakatulong sa inyong pag-aaral. Please continue to keep working hard and taking your academics seriously para malayo ang mararating niyo sa buhay (We hope that TDP and TES will help you in your studies. Please continue to keep working hard and taking your academics seriously so you can go far in life),” Congressman Marcos said to the students.

In her message, MMSU OIC President Prima Fe R. Franco highlighted how the government values education which is the great equalizer of all people.

Dr. Christine Nabor Ferrer, Regional Director for Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region I encouraged the students to take the opportunity for a brighter future and use the government subsidy for their education.

Also present at the event were Hon. Portia Salenda, Hon. Franklin Respicio, Hon. Donald Nicolas, Hon. Brian Alcid, Hon. Handy Lao, Hon. Enrico Ang, Hon. Jaybee Baquiran, and Hon. Michael Agustin, staff members of the Office of the Congressman together with Prof. Emil James Tanagon, Dr. Jahnese Asuncion, and Mr. Ericson Agcaoili.

TDP and TES are tertiary programs by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that were made to provide financial support to deserving students who need financial assistance to finish their degrees and to increase the number of college degree holders in the country.