Educational Grantees Of Poverty Alleviation Program Earn College Degrees

Close to 200 grantees of Students’ Grants-In-Aide Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA) have already earned their college degrees last March 30 after completing their respective four-year courses at the Cebu Normal University.

SGPPA is part of the national government’s effort in addressing problems of unemployment and alleviating poverty, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) launched SGP-PA in 2012 in partnership with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and Philippine State Universities and Colleges (PASUC). In 2014, the program expanded its target hence the name ESGP-PA.

The SGPPA educational grants are given to those Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program partner-beneficiaries to help sustain the gains of the program by providing them with free access to college education.

A student-grantee of SGP-PA shall be entitled with P60, 000 maximum grant per year or P30, 000 per semester. The grant is intended to cover the costs for tuition and other school fees, academic and extracurricular expenses, purchase of textbooks, board and lodging, transportation, clothing, admission/entrance fees, health and other valid related education expenses and support services to complete the degree program.

“Of the 2,093 SGPPA educational grantees in Central Visayas 188 graduated last March and we are very proud that 12 of them are Cum Laude,” said DSWD Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre.
“The 188 are the first batch of SGP-PA graduates in the region,” she added.

Macapobre cited that SGPPA aims to contribute in effectively addressing poverty alleviation by increasing the number of graduates in higher education among poor households and to get these graduates employed in high-value added occupations in order to lift their families out of poverty and contribute in national development.

She further added that SGP-PA is among the long-term instrument and commitment of the government to break the vicious cycle of poverty in the country afflicting the poor but deserving Filipino youth and their families.

Among the first batch of SGPPA graduates is Gresil Alberto-Tampus from barangay Buto, Jimalalud, Negros Oriental.
She graduated Cum Laude last March 30 with a degree in Elementary Education Major in Special Education.

“I had always wanted to enroll in college and finish it so that I can look for a job that is well-paid,” said Gresil who previously worked as a house help and a fast food crew.

Gresil, 23, was delayed in college for two years because her farmer-parents cannot afford to send her in a university given the family’s low financial status.

Other Cum-laude graduates are the following Luar Jay Salinguhay, Rose Ann Bacon, Ma. Ana May Rubia, Benjie Vanzuela, Roland Gaballo, Rose Marie Gebong, Stephanie Cañedo, Michelle Danielez, Anjie Lou Medellada, Queency Anfone and Annebe Gastador.

Moreover, to celebrate this milestone DSWD Field Office VII conducted a ceremonial graduation last April 7 at the CNU Hall.
The event was attended by the SGPPA graduates together with their parents.
Dr. Bryant C. Acar, University Lecturer of the University of Southern Philippines served as the guest speaker of the said activity.

Acar is a Summa Cum Laude graduate with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Biology. He also finished two Masters Degree in Science Teaching and Special Education and is a Doctor of Education.

He provided tips to the new graduates on how to prepare for a job interview and how make a good resume, which is important in seeking employment.