Balilihan grants full college scholarships to 4 students

By Rey Anthony H. Chiu

Tuesday 5th of June 2012

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 5 (PIA) -- The school year opens with fewer worries for four of Balilihan’s less fortunate students who passed the screening for scholarships in college.

Balilihan Mayor Dominisio Chatto said he believes that giving the opportunity to poor but deserving students will give them the opportunity to show their abilities and then help their families economically gain better stature, as long as they persevere.

“The town has pursued the direction of extending scholarship grants as its visible crusade to advocate for education and hopefully encourage poor and yet intelligent kids to excel and get free schooling expenses,” he said.

Ma. Elena Maniwang, Balilihan Information Officer, identified the students who will get scholarships as: Roger S. Balili of Boyog Sur, Anna Marie Suarez of Cogon, Jhomel A. Marquez of Hanopol Weste, and Rosalyn A. Sab of Baucan Sur.

She said the students underwent a rigorous screening by the Municipal Scholarship Board, which Mayor Chatto heads.

The applicants, who must be Balilihan residents, need to be among the top 10 of the graduating class to qualify for the screening, she disclosed.

Moreover, according to her, the board also determined that scholars must come from families whose annual income does not exceed P60,000 or from those who could hardly send their kids to school.

“This is a provision that should hit the targeted students, those who have proven they have the brains, but may not have the means to enhance and show off their mental skills and abilities,” she explained.

Finally, the scholarship can only be good for students enrolling at the Bohol Island State University (BISU)-Balilihan Campus.

Applicants earlier under went a qualifying examination set last May 21, and the screening board determined the grantees from among those who made the cut, Maniwang shared. (rmn/RAHC-PIA Bohol)