The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Ilocos Region distributed PHP4.4 million cash grants to around 638 students of Urdaneta City University (UCU) at the SM City Urdaneta Central on Thursday. The cash grant is for the Tertiary Education Subsidy Program and Tulong Dunong Program under the Unified Student Financial Assistance System (Unifast). CHED-1 regional director Dr. Christine Ferrer, during a forum, said the student-beneficiaries received assistance amounting to PHP7,500 to PHP10,000 each. Tertiary Education Subsidy Program supports the full or partial cost of education of priority students in state universities and colleges (SUCs), CHED-recognized Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) and private higher education institutions (HEIs). Qualified students are those under the most updated indigents list of the government for all SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs, and places with no SUC or LUC (PNSL) among others. The Tulong Dunong, on the other hand, is a financial assistance to qualified and deserving stu dents pursuing a college degree. Beneficiaries are given PHP7,500 per semester. Beneficiaries must be enrolled in any undergraduate degree in SUCs, CHED-recognized LUCs, and CHED-registered HEIs. "I will use the financial assistance to pay my tuition and other miscellaneous (expenses). The remaining amount, I will use for my other basic school needs," said Mhany Kharim Segui, one of the beneficiaries and Bachelor of Education third year student of UCU. Beneficiaries Janelle Mallare, Joshua Cabico, and Jay-ar Tabangin, also third year college students, thanked the national government for these programs. "Malaking tulong po ito (This is a huge help)," they said Source: Philippines News Agency