The Pasig City local government distributed financial incentives and assistance to a total of 31 eligible scholars and board exam takers in the city on Thursday, Feb. 10.
The 13 cum laude graduates each received P20,000, and the only magna cum laude graduate got P25,000 worth of cash incentives.
Those who earned honors were scholars of the local government through the Pasig City Scholarship Program (PCSG).
The 17 board exam takers were each given P10,000 in order to assist them financially in covering the costs and expenses for review programs and exam application fees.
Majority of the beneficiaries, who are residents of the city, will be taking the Criminology Licensure Exam (CLE) and the Nursing Licensure Exam (NLE) this year.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto stressed that education must be considered a constant priority.
“Ang pera na inilaan natin para sa edukasyon, hindi po yun gastos. Hindi gastos ang bawat pisong ginagamit natin para sa edukasyon, para sa mga mag-aaral natin. Hindi po ito gastos, bagkus ito po ay investment natin sa susunod na henerasyon ng mga Pasigueño (The money we allotted foreducation is not an expense. Every single coin we use for education is for our students. This is our investment for the next generation of Pasigueños),” Sotto said.
The PCSG is the local government’s main educational assistance initiative that allows eligible students to avail of free tuition while studying in any public or private school or institution within or outside the city.
In 2019, around 13,000 students enrolled in the scholarship program. By 2020, the scholarship had around 18,000 enrollees. The city had 20,000 enrolled scholars in 2021. (Khriscielle Yalao)