DAET, Camarines Norte – The academic performances of some 2,800 college students, all recipients of the Congressional scholarship of Camarines Norte second district Congressman Elmer Panotes, are currently being evaluated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
This was revealed by the Camarines Norte Congressman during his holiday break here on Saturday (Dec.28).
With the abolition of the Priority Development and Assistance Fund (PDAF), which is the source of the Congressional scholarship fund given to each recipient in the amount of P 5,000 per/ semester, many student beneficiaries feel “their Congressional scholarship became a collateral damage” of the “Napoles scam” that many believe eventually prompted the Supreme Court to declare the PDAF unconstitutional.
Panotes said that under CHED’s policy, a college student would qualify for continuance of scholarship if he/she gets an average grade of 85 or 2.5, which is higher than the previously required mere passing grade of 75.
The Cam. Norte second district Congressman, who implements a policy of having at least two scholars in all 135 villages in the seven towns of his district, has the biggest number of scholars in the province.
Camarines Sur fifth district Congressman Salvio Fortuno, who has over 3,000 college scholars, claims that he has endorsed all his scholars to the CHED program. But with the new average grade requirement, Fortuno admits not all his scholars will make it.
Out of their previous PDAF funds, Panotes and Fortuno had earmarked P20 Million and P30 Million respectively for scholarship funds in their districts. (SONNY SALES)