MORE than 500 high school graduates and transferees from various colleges in Region I who have availed of the government’s Expanded Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) are now enrolled in the different degree programs of MMSU, according to figures from the Student Services and Development Office.

The ESGP-PA was formed through CHED Memorandum Order No. 09, series of 2012, through its Disbursement Acceleration Program. After the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of senators and congressmen in which part of it was used to support poor but deserving students who want to pursue higher education, ESGP-PA was intensified.

Fund formerly allocated to PDAF are now channeled to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the implementation of the ESGP-PA through its Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Beneficiaries of this program are children belonging to indigent households under the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) for poverty alleviation of the DSWD.

MMSU as ESG Center in Region I
In Region I, only MMSU and the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University in La Union are accredited by CHED to serve as centers for the ESGP-PA, which is under the 4Ps that screens ESGP which aims to address poverty alleviation by increasing the number of college graduates from poor households and letting them employed in high-value occupations in order to lift their families out of poverty and, at the same time, contribute to national development.

The program is implemented by CHED in coordination with the Department of Budget and Management, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, DSWD, and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Children who are qualified in this program can enroll in MMSU or in DMMMSU and take up CHED-identified priority programs aligned with the government key growth areas.

Total annual financial assistance per scholar
Although students are well-supported by this program, they should still pass the required cut-off scores of the degree programs they want to pursue and the required number of units per semester.

Through this program, the DSWD is providing each student an annual financial assistance of P60,000 broken down as follows: P20,000 for tuition, other fees, and academic and extracurricular expenses; P5,000 for textbook and other learning materials; and P35,000 for food, lodging, clothing, transportation, health or medical needs, basic school supplies, and other related costs.

CHED-identified priority programs for scholars
There are 40,453 slots nationwide allotted for the ESG-PA which has a total budget of P2.5 billion proportionally distributed among accredited SUCs. As one of the requirements, applicants to this program should enroll in the following CHED-identified priority programs: information technology (includes multimedia, animation, and library science); agriculture and related fields (include veterinary medicine and agricultural engineering); teacher education (with major in math, science, physics, English, and chemistry); science and mathematics (include math, physics, biology, and statistics); engineering (includes chemical, civil, electrical, electronics, and mechanical);

Health sciences (include pharmacy, medical technology, and physical therapy); arts and humanities (include philosophy, theology, and religious education); social and behavioral sciences (include psychology, social works, and guidance); business administration and related courses (include accountancy, and tourism); architecture (includes landscape architecture, interior design, and fine arts); marine transportation; and communication (includes journalism and broadcasting courses).

Qualifications for scholarship
To avail of the program, a student must meet the following qualifications: 1) identified as beneficiary of the 4Ps by the DSWD; 2) not more than 30 years old at the time of application; 3) physically and mentally fit; 4) completed high school and/or equivalent education; 5) not covered by other higher education scholarship/grant from public institutions; and 6) passed the College Freshman Admission Test.

The student must carry a full subject load every semester as prescribed in the curriculum and finish within the required period of the program. He should maintain a satisfactory academic performance in accordance with the policies and standards of MMSU, render a return service of two years after graduation in the country except for highly critical courses determined by local industry and government services, and adhere to terms and conditions as stipulated in the program.