“It is our goal, as college students, to finish our studies. And it is our dream, as youth, to have a better, more fulfilling future,” remarked 19-year-old Mara Monte from Sta. Justina, Buhi.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in close partnership with the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur and Local Government of Buhi, distributes educational assistance to student-beneficiaries of Buhi on March 3, 2022 at Lourdes Elementary School.
Mara Monte, a 1st year architecture student of the University of Saint Anthony (USANT), is among the recipients of the educational assistance. Of the many expectations and requirements that entail an architecture student, the costly tools and materials are one of the many things Monte worries about. From good sets of drawing pencils and pens to a good quality drawing table, the amount of money required to supply these can be taxing, especially that Monte’s family only relies on their small sari-sari store to support her education. Which is why when she heard of the educational assistance, she took advantage of the good opportunity and applied for it.
The educational assistance awarded to students like Monte is under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), a part of DSWD’s protective services for the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable or disadvantaged individuals, together with the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur. A total of 230 student-beneficiaries from Buhi received the educational assistance amounting to P5,000 for each recipient.
Monte plans to use the assistance she received to buy herself a drawing table for her studies and the plates she will make through her course.
Education can bridge the wide gap between poverty and a better, brighter future and as it has been repeatedly said, the youth is the hope of the future generations. That is why it is only imperative for the national agencies and local government units to work hand-in-hand to give students the opportunity and scaffolding for them to have better chances to reach their life goals and dreams.
Another recipient of the educational assistance is Marilyn Clerigo, a 1st year elementary education student in Baao Community College (BCC).
“As I am studying to hopefully become a teacher someday, we do a lot of demo teaching in our course. The expenses we need to create colorful and engaging instructional materials is no joke, even more so for me that I am now only relying on my aunt who took on me and my brother,” explained Clerigo.
Clerigo has lost both her parents and a sibling. Despite the tragedy she has faced, inspiration and passion burn within her to finish her studies in order to give back to her aunt, help her one remaining brother, and make her parents proud.
As a student of BCC, one of the provincially-managed colleges of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur under Governor Miguel Luis “Migz” Villafuerte, Clerigo is not new to the many programs and generous forms of assistance of the Provincial Government when it comes to education.
“I was really keen in getting a scholarship from the province because I want to help my aunt even in little ways. Apart from the educational assistance from the DSWD, the scholarship from the province is a huge help for me to achieve my dreams,” added enthused Clerigo.
The Provincial Government, together with DSWD, continues to reach out to marginalized students with educational assistance, scholarships, and other forms of assistance.
