The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), through the Unified Financial Assistance for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) in Bicol, opened scholarship opportunities to more than 40,000 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) through its “Patuloy na Edukasyon, Patuloy na Pag-ahon” (PEPA) educational caravan across the region, officials announced Thursday.
Emmanuel Villamor, CHED-UniFAST lead regional coordinator in Bicol, said the initiative is a joint effort with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Education (DepEd), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to guide senior high school graduating students in choosing the academic or technical-vocational track best suited to their interests and capabilities.
“This activity will give students enough information to decide whether to pursue a technical-vocational program or a four-year college course,” Villamor said in an interview.
The caravan has already been conducted in Catanduanes and Masbate, and on Thursday, in Daraga. Upcoming caravans are scheduled in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Sorsogon.
Cyrus Luis Magallanes, a Grade 12 student, said he joined the caravan to explore scholarship opportunities for college.
“I’m here because I want to pursue my college education and find a scholarship so I can secure a job in the future. I am interested in taking up a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology,” he said.
Maria Lourdes Galit, a parent of a Grade 12 student who is a person with a disability (PWD), expressed gratitude for the program, saying it gives her child a chance to pursue higher education despite financial challenges.
“It’s really hard as a mother to see your child struggle, but despite his condition, he still wants to continue his education. I am thankful that even if he loses the cash grant from the 4Ps, there are scholarship opportunities he can apply for,” Galit said.
Project PEPA serves as an information caravan for Grade 12 students, aiming to empower them to make informed education decisions, pursue higher education, improve employment prospects, and promote inclusive access to education. (PNA)
