Piliño students receive educational assistance from LGU CamSur
More than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic called for the reshaping of our students’ learning experience, many students, especially the marginalized, remained struggling in coping and adjusting with these major changes. Amid these challenges, the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, under the leadership of Governor Miguel Luis “Migz” Villafuerte, remains dedicated in supporting its students’ educational endeavors.
On April 14, 2021, the Provincial Government, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), awarded educational assistance to 467 students from all of the 26 barangays of Pili. Luigi Villafuerte led the awarding of the educational assistance amounting P5,000 each student-beneficiary.
Present on the event to express gratitude for the aid of the province to their students are Pili Vice Mayor Marivic Solano, Municipal Councilors Maria Mercedita Violeta, Rogelio Regondola, Rudel Divinagracia, Romeo Salazar, Efren Amesola, and Augusto Camano.
One of the struggles the students are facing today is the money for load subscription and slow internet connection. First year-student Arriane Sagatinto attests to this when she said, “Sobrang hirap po makapag-attend ng online class sa Google Meet. Ang hirap po kasi minsan sa gabi lang talaga may signal eh hanggang 6:00 PM lang naman po pasok namin.”
To make up for the inevitability of her missing some of her classes, she made sure to do well in their activities and exams. Sagatinto also shared their family’s struggle in finding a source of income in the middle of a pandemic.
“Mahirap din po makahanap ng trabaho ngayon sina papa dahil nga dito sa pandemic kaya nahihirapan po kami na makahanap ng pagdagdag sa tuition namin,” furthered Sagatinto. For this reason, she decided to use the educational assistance she received to pay for her tuition fee in her university.
Sotero Balderama III, another student-beneficiary who received P5,000, will use the assistance to support his studies. Balderama is currently taking his masters in Disaster Risk and Resilience and according to him, the educational assistance could not be timely enough as he is working on his thesis studies.
“Para sako, dakulang tabang ini kasi ma-thesis ako. Dakol na mga requirements an masakit hanapon kun mayong kwarta,” related Balderama. “Sa educational assistance na ini, makakasiguro ako na si thesis writing ko makokompleto na,” he concluded.
The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur believes that education is the greatest equalizer, that is why it continues to work to help students realize their goals and dreams. Sagatinto and Balderama are only two of the many beneficiaries of the education assistance. More students of Camarines Sur are guaranteed to receive the same assistance in the coming days.