DAVAO CITY – The First Congressional District Office reported on Tuesday, March 2, that over 1,000 students in the first district have been given educational assistance for school year 2020-2021.

First Congressional District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte has been coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the student’s educational assistance.

The office said that this is to help students whose parents have lower income and those who had lost their jobs due to the shutting down of several businesses brought by the pandemic.

Jimboy Blanco, a College of Teacher Education student, said that he is thankful for the educational assistance program of the First Congressional District Office, now that his parents are having financial struggles.

“Pito mi gakaon sud sa among panimalay. Ang trabaho ni Mama tindera, akong Papa welder (There are seven of mouths to feed in the house. My mother is a vendor, while my father is a welder),” Blanco said. 

Cathely Berizo, a College of Health Science Education student, said that his father was a carpenter. She added that due to the coronavirus pandemic, his father seldom received projects.

“Naa man mi hinuon gamay nga sari-sari store na ginabantayan ni mama, pero ang kita tama ra sab (We have a small sari sari store that my mom tends to, but the profit is just enough for our basic needs),” Berizo said.

At least 400 students from various schools received educational assistance in the first semester and 897 students benefited from the same program this second semester of the school year 2020-2021.

The First Congressional District Office also noted 203 individuals have enrolled in their Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) scholarship program, School Year 2020-2021.