BACOLOD CITY – The 605th Maneuver Company based in Victorias City, Negros Occidental launched a scholarship program to aid students whose families are financially challenged to support their education that coincided with the opening of face-to-face classes this week.

Dubbed “Sibol ng Pag-asa,” the program aims to campaign for and promote the interests of young people for a good education. It also aims to develop youth towards becoming good citizens and become productive members of the community in the future.

Police Capt. Jerome Manahan, company commander, said they conceptualized the program to help families who were greatly affected by the pandemic. Police Patrolwoman Crystalyn Rose Salvador is the program manager and personnel-in-charge.

Manahan said they initially targeted to support elementary pupils. They already have two scholars.

The two scholars are boys aged six and 10, who are now in Grade 1 and Grade 5, respectively. Both are pupils of Victorias Elementary School 1 in Victorias City.

Manahan said the mother of the Grade 5 pupil is a single mother, who owns a small “sari-sari” (community convenience) store, while the parents of the Grade 1 pupil are a laundrywoman and a laborer.

He said that these families underwent selection process. Beneficiaries should have no record in the barangay or the police, he added.

Manahan stressed that their program also gives significance to education. He said they wanted the children to know that education is for everyone.

If there’s an opportunity, they should grab it and be persistent until they finish their studies and eventually become successful, Manahan said.

Manahan said that two sets of uniforms, school shoes, school supplies, and daily allowances were given to the scholars from the own pockets of the policemen.

He said they will support the education of these two children until they finish college.

Manahan said they are looking forward to have additional scholars in the coming weeks. In fact, the 1st Maneuver Platoon based in Silay City, and the 2nd Maneuver Platoon based in San Carlos City, all under the 605th Maneuver Company, will start to look for the next scholars.

Aside from providing the scholars with the things and allowances, Manahan said that policemen will also assist the scholars in their studies or tutor them.

Thus, he said, it is better for them to choose scholars under their jurisdiction so that it would be easy for them to monitor their performance in school.

Manahan said they are also planning to provide scholarship to high school students or even college students, if they have already enough resources, or if they can ask support from other stakeholders to sustain the program.

He said the families of these scholars were very thankful for the opportunity given to their children.