690 TACLOBAN PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS FIND RENEWED HOPE TO FINISH COLLEGE UNDER PBBM PROGRAM

FOR hundreds of struggling college students here in Tacloban City, the dream of finally walking across the graduation stage no longer feels out of reach, it feels within grasp.

A total of 690 scholars from this thriving city, each chosen by their respective barangays, are now beneficiaries of the national government’s educational assistance under the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang Program”, a grassroots initiative of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that is reshaping how support reaches the country’s most vulnerable students.

For 21-year-old Emerson Cabrillas, a graduating Bachelor of Science in Education student at Leyte Normal University, the assistance is more than just financial, it is a lifeline.

“Napakalaking tulong nito sa katulad naming mahirap. Apat kaming magkakapatid na sabay-sabay nag-aaral,” he shared.

The son of a tricycle driver and a public market vendor, Cabrillas said the grant eases the mounting costs of thesis requirements, transportation, and daily expenses, burdens that often force students like him to stop short of finishing college.

He is not alone.

From Barangay 99 in the Diit district, John Mark Martinez and Renza Miel Pesado, both studying at Asian Development Foundation College, echo the same struggle.

“Kailangan kong makatapos dahil ako lang ang nakapag-college sa amin,” said Pesado, whose father works as a security guard. Like many in the program, he carries not just his own aspirations, but the hopes of an entire family.

For Kyla Montejo, a 23-year-old student from Barangay 106 Sto. Niño enrolled at Eastern Visayas State University, and support represents relief from years of financial strain.

“Napakalaking tulong ito para sa pamilya namin. Sana mas marami pang tulad naming mahirap ang matulungan,” she said, her voice carrying both gratitude and quiet determination.

Montejo, like Martinez, is also the daughter of a tricycle driver, one of many beneficiaries whose families rely on daily earnings that barely cover basic needs.

Their stories reflect a larger national reality: thousands of capable students forced to abandon their studies due to financial hardship, especially in their final year.

Recognizing this gap, the Marcos administration introduced a targeted intervention through the “Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Scholars” program, a “finisher fund” embedded within the broader “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” initiative.

Each barangay nationwide receives P200,000 in direct funding, with a portion allocated to education. Specifically, five incoming fourth-year students per barangay are granted a one-time P20,000 assistance, designed to ensure they complete their degrees.

The program addresses a critical concern a 39% college attrition rate, often driven by financial constraints during the final stretch of schooling.

By coursing funds through barangays, the government’s most grassroots unit, the initiative ensures that aid reaches those who need it most, from marginalized households to children of transport workers and displaced families.

In Tacloban City, the impact was made even more personal as President Marcos met the scholars at the city convention center, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to directly engage beneficiaries.

Beyond policy, the encounter underscored a broader message: that government support is not distant, but present, and responsive.

For the 690 scholars of Tacloban, the assistance is not merely financial aid, it is a second wind. It is the difference between stopping and finishing. Between uncertainty and opportunity. Between a deferred dream and a fulfilled one.

And for students like Cabrillas, Pesado, Martinez, and Montejo, it brings them closer to a singular goal: A diploma not just for themselves, but for the families who sacrificed everything to get them there.