Senator Joel Villanueva is pushing to make the government’s merit scholarship program permanent so deserving but financially struggling Filipino students can finish their studies.
Villanueva, principal sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2410 or the proposed Presidential Merit Scholarship Program Act, said the measure seeks to turn the existing Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program into a permanent national scholarship program. The program currently has 20,000 scholars nationwide.
“Kung may talino, may sipag, at may pangarap ang isang batang Pilipino, hindi dapat salapi at kahirapan ang dahilan para hindi po siya makatapos ng pag-aaral,” Villanueva said.
The scholarship would be open to qualified senior high school graduates from public and private schools. Applicants for higher education must either belong to the top 1% of their graduating class or have a GWA of at least 95%, while TVET diploma applicants must have a GWA of at least 85%.
“Walang lamang kung galing sa public o private school. Kung may galing, sipag, at pangarap, dapat may patas na pagkakataon,” he said.
Aside from tuition, qualified scholars may receive living and transportation stipends, book and connectivity allowances, educational assistance, and support for internships, thesis, research and board examinations.
Villanueva said the program is meant to help students finish school and prepare for employment, with priority fields including healthcare, agriculture, science and engineering, education and research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing.
“Hindi sapat na matulungan lamang silang makapasok sa paaralan. Dapat tiyakin din nating may pagkakataon silang makatapos, makahanap ng trabaho, at magtagumpay sa buhay,” he said.
Villanueva said making the program a law would protect it from changes in administration and annual policy priorities.
“Ang scholarship ay hindi lamang po ayuda sa estudyante. Puhunan po ito sa kinabukasan ng bayan,” he said.IMT
