Led by none other than CHEDRO8 Director, Dr. Maximo C. Aljibe, the Commission held an orientation for the new qualified beneficiaries of the Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and Their Families. In the same activity, the distribution of the Notice of Awards (NOAs) and contracts was also done at the Teatro Ibabawnon, ESSU Main Campus, on Saturday, October 19, 2024.
In his empassioned message to the scholars and their parents, Dr. Aljibe explained what the grant means and rallied the beneficiaries to put in the needed sacrifice in order to finish their studies and look at this opportunity with utmost gratitude, as not everyone is given the privilege to be granted the said scholarship.
The 178 new scholarship grantees come from all across ESSU campuses, including 97 from the Main Campus, 44 from ESSU Guiuan, 17 from ESSU Can-avid, 13 from ESSU Salcedo as new scholars for AY 2024-2025, and 7 replacements from the Main Campus as well for the 2nd Semester, AY 2023-2024.
The beneficiaries are looking at a Php70,000 financial assistance outright, apart from the Php40,000 per semester for the entire scholarship program until they earn their degrees, and an additional Php75,000 thesis and internship allowance for graduating students.
Of course, the hefty benefits also come with stringent conditions like maintaining a 2.0 general weighted average (GWA), among several other parameters rightfully so. Not meeting the conditions means being delisted from the scholarship as many others are on the waiting list of the Student Scholarship and Financial Assistance (SSFA) office.
ESSU President, Dr. Andres C. Pagatpatan, Jr., for his part, echoed the message of Dr. Aljibe and enjoined the student beneficiaries to fulfill their end of the contract until they graduate so that they can help their families and be significant contributors to society's development. The team from CHEDRO8 gave a comprehensive orientation seminar to the first time beneficiaries, including seven (7) replacements, and addressed questions from the crowd of grantees and their parents.
The University's SSFA and CHEDRO8 offices also reiterated that their job is only the collection of documentary requirements and preliminary screening, whereas the final list of qualified scholars is given by the CHED National Office and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), where the funding for the said scholarship comes from.
