LAOAG CITY: At least 132 students of state-run Mariano Marcos State University received a PHP7,500 grant each from the Commission on Higher Education's (CHED) Tulong Dunong Program (TPD) during a ceremony held at the Student Center Building of the Batac campus on Thursday. The TPD is a one-time grant to qualified and deserving students pursuing a college degree. To qualify for the program, potential beneficiaries must be enrolled in any undergraduate degree course in state universities and colleges, CHED-recognized local universities and colleges, and private higher education institutions. According to Philippines News Agency, the financial assistance provides a significant boost to students like 22-year-old Monica Asis, an agriculture student who was orphaned at a young age. Asis expressed her gratitude for the grant, stating that it will enable her to continue her education by covering school miscellaneous expenses and her daily allowance. Similarly, Nelie Eder, a parent from Barangay 10 Cabagan, Paoay tow n, highlighted how the grant aids her daughter Niña, a second-year Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education student. With rising transportation costs from Paoay to Laoag City, Eder expressed relief and gratitude for the program's support for less fortunate students. For those who were unable to attend the stipend distribution in person, arrangements were made to allow authorized representatives to collect the grants, ensuring that students' class schedules were not disrupted. Lyra Mae Longgat, a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy student, shared her experience of applying for the program. After seeing the announcement on social media, Longgat submitted the required documents and was thankful for receiving the financial aid, which she plans to use for daily expenses such as food and transportation, despite her tuition being free at the university.