Davao Oriental, Philippines – Despite the challenges posed by a limited budget this year, the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental has distributed a total of P3 million in educational assistance to 600 college students under the “Ang Asosasyon ng Karapat-dapat Purihin” (The ESKAPU) program, one of the flagship initiatives of Governor Niño Uy. This program underscores the provincial government’s commitment to supporting the youth and advancing the education sector in Davao Oriental.
The recipients, who are enrolled in various public and private colleges across the province, received P5,000 each on November 5, during a distribution event at the Provincial Capitol Covered Court. Governor Uy personally led the ceremony to emphasize the importance of this initiative and its positive impact on the education of youth in the province.
In his message, Governor Uy highlighted that, despite the financial constraints, the Provincial Government has remained committed to the program due to the significant positive effects it has had on the educational development of local students.
“There’s no other purpose for this program except to help students continue their education. You are very lucky, because many of you are already beneficiaries, and there are many others who still haven’t had the chance due to the limited resources of our Provincial Government. But despite that, we have not stopped this program because of the great impact it has had on our education sector,” Governor Uy stated.
The Governor also acknowledged the hard work of parents during these challenging times, urging students to also help their families by making the most of their education.
“No matter how small, as long as we persist, we can help our parents. Not all of us come from the same financial background. Some families really struggle to support their education, so let’s also help them by doing our best,” he added.
According to Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Manager Restie Aguilon, who organized the distribution event and serves as the focal person for the program, most of the current beneficiaries are continuing students who were already members of the association and had submitted the required documents in the previous semester. These students have received educational assistance in past semesters and are expected to continue receiving support until they graduate, as long as they maintain passing grades.
The 600 students who are members of the “Ang Asosasyon ng Estudyanteng Karapat-dapat Purihin” (ESKAPU) program are set to continue receiving educational benefits, with the current semester’s grant of P5,000 each. The program aims to provide consistent and long-term support to the youth, ensuring they are given the resources they need to succeed in their studies.
Governor Uy’s initiative is a testament to his strong belief in the power of education as a means of breaking the cycle of poverty and helping the youth achieve success in life. This program is expected to continue benefiting Davao Oriental’s students for years to come, as the provincial government remains dedicated to strengthening the education sector in the province.
