THE Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program has reaped its gains as one of its beneficiaries graduated magna cum laude at West Visayas State University-Calinog campus in Iloilo.
Jomalyn Lucena graduated on top of her class taking up Bachelor of Science in Agriculture under the College of Agriculture and Forestry.
No less than Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman graced the graduation rites of Jomalyn at WVSU on Wednesday.
“I am so proud of you today. Hindi naging madali ito para sa inyo. Nag-adjust kayo sa buhay unibersidad. You had to change your lives, left your families and put yourselves in a new world. Naghabol kayo ng grades, nanindigan at nalagpasan ninyo ang mga pagsubok,” said Soliman.
Aside from Jomalyn, 14 other graduates covered by PantawidPamilyang Pilipino Program, the government of the Philippine’s version of the CCT, finished their college as cum laude.
They were identified as Marialie Castro, Bachelor of Special Education; Maricel Jason, Bachelor of Special Education; Gerarld But, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology; and Sheryl Samson, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, all at West Visayas State University main campus;
Jeffrey Domingo, Billy Requiola, Kristie Mae Samsona, and Pelagia Zamora, all with Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at WVSU-Calinog campus;
Johnny Lutrago, Rey-An Montes, JovelynDulman, Irene Ortega, Ledy S. Villarma, all with Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at WVSU-Lambunao campus;
Jocelyn Aligata, meanwhile, graduated with Bachelor of Science in Forestry in the same campus.
“Ito ang matamis na simula. Ito ang unang hakbang para makaahon kayo sa kahirapan. Ngayon mayhawak na kayo na karunungan at karanasan na kinuha ninyo sa apat na taon. May pagkatataon kayong pumili. Hindi na kayo nakakulong sa kahirapan (This is a sweet beginning. Its your first step towards breaking the bondage ofpoverty. You have the wisdom and experience from your four years. You already have the opportunity to choose. You are no longer enslaved by poverty),” said Soliman.
The graduates are among the 207 students who are also covered by the Students Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA), a scholarship implemented by DSWD in partnership with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Budget and Management. The scholarship was implemented to complement the implementation of Pantawid Pamilya and usher them towards breaking the cycle of poverty.
Currently, there are 3,629 SGP-PA scholars all over the region (including Negros Occidental). Aside from WVSU campuses, they are enrolled in Iloilo Science and Technololgy University, Iloilo State College of Fisheries, Northern Iloilo Polytechnic Science College, Capiz State University, Aklan State University, University of Antique, Guimaras State College, Central Philippine State University, Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology, Carlos Hilado Memorial State College and Technological University of the Philippines-Visayas campus./ dswd6/May Rago-Castillo