A total of 645 college scholars received cash assistance on Sunday from the Bayanihan para sa Kinabukasan ng Kabataan (BKK or Cooperation for the Youth’s Future) fund of the local government unit.

Each student received PHP4,000, a big help in meeting their educational needs, according to beneficiary Angelica Joy Alvarez, a junior Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education student at the Polytechnic of the Philippines.

“We use this cash aid for our daily expenses like baon (school allowance) and for school supplies,” she added.

Mayor Matt Erwin Florido said it is his longtime dream for every household in this municipality to have at least one college graduate.

“When I ran as mayor of this town, I immediately pushed for the realization of my dream, for every Heneralunahin to have an access to free and quality education,” he said in his speech during the payout held at the Bulwagang may Puso covered court.

Florido said in two weeks’ time, the next batch of scholars will also receive their allowance, comprised of freshmen students (PHP5,000) and those taking up masters and doctorate degrees (PHP10,000).

Florido recalled that under his first term on 2019 to 2022, the municipal government built three high schools — Sergio Balane Integrated School in Barangay Recto, San Nicolas Integrated School in Barangay San Nicolas and General Luna National High School in Barangay Pidac.

Their town may be a fourth-class municipality but they are among the ones with the most number of scholars, he said.

The BKK is a pooled resource to sustain the scholars’ allowances and cash assistance.

It is composed of one percent of the annual Internal Revenue Allotment of the 27 villages of Gen. Luna, 10 percent of Sangguniang Kabataan fund, PHP40,000 per annum contribution of private individuals (mostly teachers), PHP30,000 from government employees and PHP6,000 from his own pocket. (PNA)