The province of Pangasinan will have 6,665 scholars from its 1,333 villages, each receiving PHP20,000 from the Office of the President (OP).

During a Monday interview while visiting the province with Cabinet Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., Undersecretary Facundo Palafox IV of the Office of the Executive Secretary said the program is a socio-civic project of the OP and a subprogram of the “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” flagship program.

“It aims to help the operations of the local government units (LGUs). President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive is for the citizens to feel the services of the national government,” he said.

In a separate interview, Abalos said the PHP100,000 for each village will be given to five qualified and deserving students.

The village councils will decide how to choose the scholars, he said.

“Education is the great equalizer. That’s why the President gives premium on this,” he said.

Manaoag Mayor Jeremy Agerico Rosario, who is also the League of Municipalities of the Philippinea-Pangasinan president, said they added a requirement that the beneficiaries in their town should not be relatives of any of the village officials.

“True to his word, President Marcos delivered his promise. On behalf of the mayors, we thank the President,” he said. (PNA)