PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged students to take advantage of the support of the government as he reminded them that education is not a privilege but a right of every Filipino.
Speaking before presidential scholars at the Obando Central School in Bulacan, Marcos stressed the government’s commitment to help Filipino youth complete their studies.
"For the government, education is not a privilege, it is the right of every youth that must be taken care of and guaranteed that is good," he said.
The president also reminded the students that education is a lifelong investment that can help uplift their lives, their families, and their communities.
He challenged the scholars to study hard and prepare for future leadership roles in society, saying today’s students would eventually become the country’s teachers, professionals, entrepreneurs, and public servants.
"Education is a treasure. It cannot be taken away from you, it cannot be stolen. It is there for a lifetime and you can use it to improve your life and the lives of your family," he said.
The president met with Presidential Scholars from 11 barangay (villages) in Obando, with a total of 55 scholars receiving financial assistance at Obando Central.
The scholarship initiative is part of the Socio-Civic Projects Fund, under which each barangay receives a P200,000 special support fund, half of which is allocated to educational assistance, with the remainder intended for community development projects.
Under the initiative, each barangay receives P200,000, with P100,000 allocated for five scholars who will each receive P20,000.
Marcos said that with more than 42,000 villages nationwide, the initiative could potentially assist more than 210,000 students.
"Look for those who are about to graduate but are struggling because they don't have enough money to pay, or need to work," the president told local leaders.
The “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program was launched on Feb. 23 and has since expanded across several provinces and cities, including Eastern Visayas, Cagayan, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, and Manila.
So far, more than 8,700 villages have benefited from the program.
