DSWD Expanded Student’s Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) grantee Raymark Khalid Cabading poses with his mother, Carmelita, during the graduation rites of Sultan Kudarat State University in Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat.

LUTAYAN, SULTAN KUDARAT – Staring at the sea of black robes in this town’s gymnasium and hearing the Philippine graduation march “Martsang Pandangal” playing, 21-year old Raymark Khalid Cabading could not help but feel very emotional.  For him, the graduation ceremony marked the end of his difficult journey to secure a formal education ; at the same time it signals the start of a new chapter in his life wherein new opportunities open for him and his family.

The son of a street sweeper, Raymark did not think that he would be able to finish his studies because of his family’s financial limitations due to his family’s financial incapacity. But with his dedication and perseverance, and with the help of the government, he proved that he could fight—and win over—poverty.

On March 29, Raymark graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Technology degree from Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) satellite campus in this municipality.

Sweeping his way towards success

Raymark could still recall the time he decided to drop out of school so he could work instead and help his mother earn money for the family. He found work as a street sweeper in Koronadal City, waking up at 2:00 AM every day to clean about 400 to 600 meters of highway.

“After graduating from high school, I did not have any plan to go to college because I knew my parents could not afford to pay for my tuition. So, I worked together with my mother as a street sweeper for two months,” he recounted.

But if Raymart thought that he could not enter college because of financial limitations, his parents thought otherwise. They believed that he would still have a chance to earn a college degree—and they were right. Soon, Raymark learned that he was one of the grantees of the government’s Expanded Student’s Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA).

ESGP-PA was a program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in partnership with State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) which aimed to provide educational assistance to beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“The opportunity provided by ESGP-PA made me realize that our status in life should not hinder me from pursuing my dreams,” Raymark shared.

In his speech during their graduation, Raymark recognized the hardships endured by his parents, Rizalde and Carmelita Cabading, to help him finish his studies.

“To my Mama and Papa, I love you. I’m here right now in front of you. I am grateful for all of your support and for everything that you have given me,” he said.  “Finally and most importantly,  I would like to state my heartfelt gratitude to God, to Allah, who ruled everything on earth, for giving me life, strength, courage, wisdom, and everything,” he added.

During his speech, Raymark also gave thanks to those behind his success, specifically the national government, which gave him the opportunity to attend college and get a degree.

Now that he is already a certified graduate, Raymark said he will start looking for a job this April to start helping his family.

Dr. Junito Marcelino, SKSU Campus director, described Raymark as a kind, humble, and respectful student.

“For me, he is fitted to work in the government, as he is a champion in terms of attitude,” Dir. Marcelino affirmed.

ESGP-PA implementation

Raymark is among the more than 2,000 college students in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region who will graduate this year under the ESGP-PA. Nationwide, around 34,000 students are expected to graduate from the program.

Under the ESGP-PA, a student-grantee receives a maximum of P60,000 per school year to cover tuition fees, school supplies, food, clothing, lodging, and other school-related expenses.

Starting School Year 2018-2019, however, ESGP-PA will be implemented fully by CHED through the Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST).

CHED’s UniFAST reconciles, improves, strengthens, expands, and puts under one body all government-funded modalities of Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) for tertiary education – and special purpose education assistance – in both public and private institutions. These modalities include scholarships, grants-in-aid, student loans, and other specialized forms of StuFAPs formulated by the UniFAST Board.

UniFAST was established by virtue of Republic Act 10687 or the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act. It is further strengthened by RA 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,  which indicated the role of the UniFAST Board in administering tertiary education subsidy for Filipino students.

Under RA 10931, the government will shoulder the tuition and fees of students enrolled in 112 SUCs, 78 local universities and colleges, and technical-vocation (tech-voc) education and training programs registered under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). ###