One hundred eleven poor but deserving students from the family-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program(4Ps) in the province were given the opportunity to pursue a college degree through the Expanded Student’s Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA), a joint program of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Social Welfare and Development(DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment(DOLE) and the Aurora State College of Technology that aims to address poverty by increasing the number of graduates in higher education among poor households that will contribute to a wide-ranging economic development.

Under the program, a student grantee is entitled for a maximum of Php. 60, 000.00 scholarship grant per school year which is allocated for Tuition Fee – 20, 000.00, Text Books and other learning materials-5,000.00 and the remaining 35, 000.00 is distributed to Php. 3, 500.00 monthly stipend allotted for board and lodging, transportation, clothing, health/medical needs, school supplies, and other related costs. In addition, the program also makes certain that the SUC partner will extend all the needed support that will guarantee the completion of their studies for them to become a productive workforce of the society.

In connection with this, an orientation on the ESGP-PA Implementing Rules and Guidelines was conducted last June 11, 2014 at the ASCOT General Education Building. ASCOT officials and personnel together with the different Agency Partners were present to grace the event. The 4Ps scholars were briefed by Ms. Glory Mae T. Baidiango, RMEO regarding the Pantawid Pamilya Implementation while Mr. Vincent G. Zulueta, RGO challenged them to become best students on his discussion on Poverty-Cycle Challenge. Moreover, Mr. Ariel M. Bautista, IPDO-NGA and Ms. Josephine C. Dela Tonga, Provincial Link in Aurora Province discussed to them the ESGPPA Implementation and 2014 Thrust and Directions respectively for them to become aware with their duties, obligations and responsibilities as ESGP-PA scholars.