Six hundred sixty students from the fifth district of Pangasinan on October 29 were given notice of awards from the Commission on Higher Education through the initiative of Congressman Ramon V. Guico III  during the Orientation and Awarding Ceremony held at the Ramon J. Guico Sr. Sports and Civic Center.

This Grants-in-Aid Program which is the Tulong Dunong Scholarship Program awarded by the CHED Region I officials and the Office of the Representative of the 5^th District of Pangasinan entitles a student-beneficiary who is enrolled or will enroll in any curriculum year level in CHED-recognized programs of Private Higher Education Institutions, or State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and (Local Universities and Colleges LUCs) with a Certificate of Program Compliance, to get P15,000 worth of financial assistance per semester for Full Merit program and P 7,500 per semester for Half-Merit Program.

Given to deserving students from Alcala, Bautista, Binalonan, Laoac, Pozorrubio, Sison, Sto. Tomas, Villasis, and Urdaneta City, the financial assistance may be used to support the students’ cost of educational and cost of living allowance.

University of Eastern Pangasinan President Evelyn Abalos-Tomboc said,”You are indeed blessed. With the thousands of students who applied, you were the lucky ones  granted. So, you study harder. Take advantage of the opportunity.”

Binalonan Vice Mayor Melicio Patague II, who spoke on behalf Representative Ramon V. Guico III and Mayor Ramon N. Guico Jr., told the students, ”Bigyan ninyong halaga ang programa. Embrace the program and give importance to the privilege given to you.  Finish your studies. After your graduation you might be employed in Binalonan where a Japanese wiring system company will be established and generate more than 5,000 jobs .”

“Kasama ninyo sina Congressman Guico, Mayor Guico at ang Sangguniang Bayan ng Binalonan sa pagtupad ng inyong mga pangarap,” added the vice mayor.

Also present during the awarding were CHED ROI officials headed by OIC, Chief Education Program Specialist Danilo B. Bose,  UEP’s Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Jose Padillo,  CouncilorsDr. Josephine Caburnay, Dr. Noel Apolinario Bautista, Atty. Ernesto Buquing, and parents of the beneficiaries.

The CHED- Tulong Dunong Scholarship is a Grants-in Aid (GIA) under the Student Financial Assistance programs (STuFAPS) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).