Scholarships in Cebu, Philippines

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 said the government will send 450 scholars from Central Visayas to study degree courses at the Cebu Normal University (CNU) in Cebu City under the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer MCCT) program.

Aileen Lariba and Brigieda Tampus-Goron of DSWD's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps) said the MCCT is a combined effort of the DSWD, CNU, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Lariba and Goron said the budget for each scholar is P60,000 per year, or P30,000 per semester, and this will cover the entire degree course.

They said CHED will release P3,500 a month directly to the scholar to serve as allowance, while the rest of the amount will go directly to the school.

"The CNU has big role in this program because the state university facilitated for the dormitory of the student-grantees. CNU also ensures that the student-grantees can cope with the standard, hence, they have special sessions and studies," Goron said.

Only children of 4Ps beneficiaries will qualify for the scholarship program.

They must be at least 14 years old and will have to come from Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental or Siquijor .

Under the regular 4Ps, a family can qualify for the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), with a maximum benefits of P1,400, if they live in poverty and if they have a maximum of three children below 14 years old.

Lariba said the labor department will help the families of the scholars find jobs.

The DSWD is also implementing the MCCT for the Families in Need of Special Protection to provide and strengthen the safety, protection and development of children in difficult circumstances.

It is a modified approach designed to maximize the reach of the CCT to help families and children overcome their difficult situation and bring them into the regular CCT, while generating appropriate resources and services in the community.

The objectives are to return street children to their permanent homes, to send them to school or to the Alternative Learning System, and to mainstream families with children in need of special protection for normal psycho-social functioning through this expanded 4Ps.