The provincial government of Davao Oriental, through the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO), turned over a total of P3 million in educational assistance to 600 college students.

Each student beneficiary received P5,000 during the payout held on Tuesday, April 11, at the Provincial Capitol Covered Court.

The student beneficiaries, who came from public and private institutions in the province’s ten municipalities and one city, were chosen based on their family income, grades, and the on-site written examination result, among other factors, as their indicators for qualification.

Implemented under Davao Oriental’s Gabay Estudyante: Educational Assistance Program, the program was intended for students experiencing financial need, facing challenges in paying for their education, and meeting basic needs, such as food, housing, and transportation.

Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, who puts a premium on education, said this is the provincial government’s way of helping college students finish their education. “Education is the only way to escape and fight poverty,” she said.

PESO Manager Restie Aguilon said that the program also manifests the Governor’s desire to help create a clear path for their road to employment and other post-educational pursuits, as uplifting the education sector is also lifting the society for more progress.

Aguilon added that PESO -Davao Oriental hopes to retain the current beneficiaries and cater to more beneficiaries as they continue to sustain their program and help more students in dire need of financial aid.

After receiving the cash assistance, the beneficiaries can reapply for the next batch of the same service for the next semester. New applications are also welcome, along with those who were not chosen in the first batch for this year.

The PESO will also conduct another province-wide job fair, expected to be on May 1, 2023, dubbed as “Trabaho, Negosyo, Turismo at Kabuhayan or TNT KA! Trabaho Caravan 2023”. ʙʏ ᴍᴀʀᴋ ᴏʟɪᴠᴇʀ ᴀʟᴠɪᴛᴇ