ESGP-PA grantees automatically qualified under the Tertiary Education Subsidy

Student-beneficiaries under the Expanded Student's Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) program are automatically qualified for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) under Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

This was announced by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Officer-in-Charge and Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Educaation (UniFAST) Governing Board Chairperson Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III during the recognition rites for ESGPPA scholars in Region 1 at the Don Mariano Marcos State University (DMMSU) recently.

"I want to assure the more than 30,000 existing ESGP-PA grantees in the country that the Duterte administration will ensure that you can continue your studies through the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act", de Vera said.

Beneficiaries under ESGP-PA are poor but deserving students belonging to families listed in Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). They are currently enrolled in selected State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) taking up CHED priority programs and other courses offerings within the government key growth areas.

TES is one of the four programs under RA 10931 which will provide funding for qualified Filipino students from the poorest-of-the-poor households enrolled in public and private HEIs. PhP16 billion has been allocated for this program for Academic Year 2018-2019.

Once accepted under TES, ESGP-PA grantees will receive the following:

  • allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses, includng a reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of personal computer or laptop, and other education-related expenses, and;
  • allowance for room and board costs incurred by the student
  • if applicable, additional subsidy of PWDs, or a one-time cost of a first licensure examination for graduates of a Board course or program.

De Vera has instructed all SUCs to immediately send the list of their ESGPA beneficiaries to the UniFAST so they can be included in the TES list. SUCs have until October 31, 2018 to submit their list to UniFAST

 

Sgd. J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III, DPA
Officer-in-Charge and Spokesperson
Commission on Higher  Education