The Pasig City local government formally launched its landmark scholarship program for private tertiary schools on Wednesday, Sept. 6, as it pursues inclusive and equitable education for all Pasigueños.
The “Private Education for the Advancement of the Grassroots through Academic Scholarship Assistance Program” or PAG-ASA scholarship program seeks to financially assist underprivileged and indigent first year students in private higher education institutions (HEIs) and technical vocational institutions (TVIs).
Notably, eligibility to the scholarship is primarily based on the financial capabilities of the student and not on their previous grades or marks in school. Students of all ages can also apply for the scholarship.
Through the program, scholars will receive no more than P35,000 per semester until the completion of their courses, covering expenses for tuition, school fees, and a fixed allowance for books, supplies, and other miscellaneous costs.
"This PAG-ASA Scholarship Program will be our attempt to do our part in making sure that the next generation of Pasigueños are able to fulfill their studies,” said Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
“Our goal here is [to achieve] a brighter future for our city. For this program, we aim to make sure that all Pasigueños who are qualified and want to complete their tertiary studies are able to do so, despite the financial constraints or economic hardship," he added.
Aside from providing learning opportunities to students, the PAG-ASA scholarship program also aims to address the constraints of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig (PLP), which offers scholarships from the local government, in accepting more enrollees.
Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. hoped the scholarship will encourage and accommodate more students who wish to pursue higher education.
“Nakatuon ang ating atensyon sa paghahanap ng konkreto at praktikal na paraan para maibigay ang kalidad na edukasyon para sa ating kabataan (Our attention is focused on finding concrete and practical ways to provide quality education for our youth),” Jaworski said.
“Sama-sama nating bubuuin ang pangarap nating Pasig: kung saan ay bawat isa ay may pagkakataong mangarap, at may gobyernong kakampi ng tao para matupad ang kanilang mga pangarap (Together we will build a vision of Pasig wherein every person has the chance to dreams, and the government is allied with the people in pursuing these dreams),” the vice mayor added.
The city government has partnered with the Arellano University (AU) - Pasig Campus and Pasig Catholic College (PCC) for the pilot implementation of the program, facilitating the first batch of PAG-ASA scholars.
Scholars must be enrolled in select priority undergraduate courses covered by the program in the AU or PCC. The initial list includes Accountancy; Business Administration/ Entrepreneurship/ Management/ Marketing/ Finance; Education; English/ Journalism/ Communications; Hospitality Management/ Tourism; Information Technology/ Computer Science; Nursing; Political Science; and Psychology.
During the launch, Sotto, Jaworski, Representative Roman Romulo, Councilor Corazon Raymundo, AU President Francisco Paulino V. Cayco, and PCC President Rev. Fr. Daniel L. Estacio signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) as a testimony of their support for the scholarship program .
Cayco said he is open to further expanding the program to basic education, while Estacio expressed his commitment in ensuring the successful implementation of the PAG-ASA program in their school.
Eligibility and Application
Under the scholarship program, applicants must be Filipino citizens, a bona fide resident of Pasig City or at least have resided in the city for two years; included in the list of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or have a monthly household income of less than P30,000; have good moral character, and is currently not under other scholarships or study grants.
The scholarship is only open for incoming first year students that have been successfully admitted to the listed priority programs in either AU or PCC.
Application for the PAG-ASA Scholarship Program will be until Sept. 13.
Details of the application process and the requirements may be viewed on the Facebook page of the Pasig Public Information Office (PIO).