Taguig keeps high school grads’ “college dreams” alive

The Taguig City government has offered over 7,000 high school graduates this year an opportunity to pursue their college dreams through the distribution of education vouchers which can be used to pay for tuition and other fees.

“I also believe that education is a right, not a privilege. No student in Taguig should ever be prevented from studying in college by their mere station in life,” Mayor Lani Cayetano said.

The vouchers, each worth P5,000, can only be converted into cash by any of the 7,242 graduates of the 12 Taguig public high schools once they pursue higher education.

“It is my administration’s mission to provide all of our high school graduates an opportunity to go to college and reach out for their dreams. Through these education vouchers, we hope that parents would be motivated to send their kids to college,” Mayor Lani said.

“It is my firm belief that if we help our youth pursue their dreams, not only will they help their families live better lives but it will help our city as well,” she added.

Mayor Lani said the sole requirement in using the education vouchers is that the graduates enroll in any college or university, even those outside of Taguig City, or pursue technical and vocational courses.

“And if these vouchers are not enough to pay for tuition, we made sure that we poured in P300 million in our scholarship program to somehow help ease the cost of enrolment,” Mayor Lani said.

The Taguig City Council has recently given the green light to increase from P200 million to P300 million the funds for the Lifeline assistance for Neighbors In-Need (LANI) Scholarship Program, which has given away over 24,000 scholarships so far.

The education vouchers, she said, are part of the LANI Scholarship Program which has seven basic categories to which any Taguig resident can apply.

The seven basic categories of the LANI Scholarship program include the following: basic scholarship or financial assistance; full scholarships; state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) scholarships; premier/specialized schools scholarships; leaders and educators advancement and development (LEAD); review assistance program for bar and board reviewees; and priority courses and skills training.

“I am certain that with our scholarship program, we send our constituents a clear message that education is a priority of the city of Taguig,” the local Chief Executive said.

FILIPINO VERSION:

Pitong libong nagtapos ng high school ang binibigyan ng pagkakataon ng Pamahalaang Lungsod ng Taguig na maabot ang kanilang mga pangarap na makapag-aral sa kolehiyo sa pamamagitan ng education voucher na magagamit nila pang-matrikula at pantustos sa iba pang kakailanganin sa pag-aaral.

“Ako’y naniniwala na ang edukasyon ay karapatan at hindi isang pribilehiyo. Hindi dapat mahadlangan ang sinumang estudyante sa Taguig na makatuntong  ng kolehiyo dahil sa kanilang katayuan sa buhay,” pahayag ni Mayor Lani.

Magagawa lamang pakinabangan ang education voucher na nagkakahalaga ng P5,000.00 kung mag-i-enrol  ang mga  nagsipagtapos sa 12 pampublikong high school sa Taguig na may bilang na 7,242.

“Misyon ng aking administrasyon na pagkalooban ng oportunidad ang lahat ng high school graduate na makatuntong ng kolehiyo para maabot ang kanilang mga pangarap. Umaasa akong magsisilbing motibasyon ng mga magulang ang education voucher para pag-aralin nila sa kolehiyo ang kanilang mga anak ,” giit pa ni Mayor Lani.

“Matibay ang aking paniniwala na kung tutulungan natin ang mga kabataan sa pag-abot ng kanilang  pangarap ay hindi lamang kanilang pamilya ang magagawa nilang tulungan kundi maging ang ating lungsod,” dagdag pa nito.

“Kung hindi sasapat ang education voucher sa pang-matrikula ay tinitiyak natin na makatutulong sa kanila ang scholarship program ng lungsod na pinondohan ngayong taon ng P300 million,” wika ni Mayor Lani.

Kamakailan ay pinahintulutan ng Sangguniang Panlungsod ng Taguig na itaas sa P300 million mula P200 million ang pondo para sa Lifeline Assistance for Neighbors In-Need (LANI) Scholarship Program na nakapamigay na ng 24,000 scholarship.

Sinabi ng alkalde na ang education voucher ay bahagi ng LANI Scholarship Program na may pitong kategorya: basic scholarship o financial assistance; full scholarships; state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) scholarships; premier/specialized schools scholarships; leaders and educators advancement and development (LEAD); review assistance program for bar and board reviewees; at priority courses at skills training.

“Nakatitiyak ako na sa pamamagitan ng ating scholarship program ay naipararating natin sa ating mga nasasakupan ang malinaw na mensahe na inuuna at pinahahalagahan natin ang edukasyon sa lungsod ng Taguig,” giit pa ng alkalde.