GEN. LUNA, Quezon -- A total of 985 scholars received financial aid from the local government unit (LGU) under Bayanihan para sa Kinabukasan ng Kabataan (BKK) program for college students on Sunday, Feb. 5, here.
The payout, which covers the first semester of 2023, was undertaken by General Luna municipal treasurer’s office at Bulwagang May Puso.
Mayor Matt Erwin Florido and vice-mayor Laica Batariano and the members of the Sangguniang Bayan were also present during the payout.
Each scholar received P4000.
The ‘Bayanihan’ is a brainchild of Florido which he started to implement in 2019 right on his first term.
The scholarship program also included teachers who are taking master’s and doctoral studies.
Florido said that upon his assumption he planned to intensify his education program to help the poor but deserving students pursue a college degree.
He said the fund source is the collaboration of the local government unit, public and private individuals, the business sector, workers, and residents working abroad who pledge their commitment to raising funds and voluntarily give their share to sustain the program.
The BKK program is by virtue of an ordinance passed by the municipal council in 2020.
According to Florido, even scholars who already landed jobs after completing the scholarship program contributed to fund-raising under what he described as ‘balik pagpapahalaga’ (payback).
Under that scheme, every successful scholar is to shell out shares of P1000 a year for four years to make the program sustainable for the next generation, the mayor said.
General Luna is classified as a fourth-class municipality in Quezon, and yet the town has many scholars who avail of the program.