Sibalom: An initial batch of 3,000 students from the University of Antique (UA) has received educational assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
According to Philippines News Agency, the educational assistance is part of the DSWD's Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and was distributed at UA's main campus in the municipality of Sibalom. The assistance program provides PHP10,000 to each student not currently receiving any other scholarships, helping them meet their educational needs, as stated by Antique Representative Antonio Agapito Legarda.
In a message before the distribution, Legarda emphasized the importance of education as a right rather than a privilege and encouraged students to excel in their academic pursuits. He acknowledged the support of his sister, Senator Loren Legarda, in lobbying for this assistance from the DSWD. Legarda highlighted the significance of education for the future of Antique, which was elevated to a first-class province last year, and expressed hope that students will contribute positively once they graduate and find employment.
Dr. Runato Basa±es, UA Student Affairs Director, noted that this initiative marks the first time UA students, who do not receive scholarships like the Tulong-Dunong from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), are receiving such aid. Basa±es expressed gratitude for the assistance, which he described as a significant help to the students.
UA, the sole state university in Antique, serves approximately 26,000 students. Peby May Isman, a freshman in the Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship program, shared her gratitude for the assistance, which will help her with daily commuting expenses. As a married mother of three, Isman sees education as a pathway out of poverty and plans to use the aid to cover transportation costs for herself and her children.
Another recipient, Dianne Elizabeth Bartolini, a third-year Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management student, plans to use the funds for her daily school allowance and supplies. Additionally, she intends to support her family by providing a portion of the aid for groceries, as her father is a tricycle driver and her mother is a housewife.
Darlene Abagat, Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) team leader in Antique, explained that the assistance aims to help students cover tuition, miscellaneous fees, and other school-related expenses. She mentioned that the remaining students would receive their educational assistance based on the availability of funds, and she urged the recipients to use the aid responsibly.
