LEGAZPI CITY -- A total of 1,188 elementary, high school, and college students with disabilities have received PHP1.5 million in educational financial assistance from Albay’s provincial social welfare office.
Acting Albay Social Welfare Officer Eva Grageda said in an interview on Thursday that for 2018, the provincial government has allocated PHP2 million in educational aid for persons with disabilities (PWDs) from the elementary to the tertiary levels.
“For elementary pupils, we are giving PHP1,000 each, PHP1,500 each for high school students, and PHP3,000 for college students,“ Grageda said.
She said the educational assistance to PWDs is in keeping with Republic Act No. 10754, or the Act Expanding the Benefits and Privileges of Persons with Disability, which states that for them to pursue primary, secondary, tertiary, post-tertiary, as well as vocational or technical education in both public and private schools, qualified PWDs will be provided with scholarships, grants, financial aids, subsidies and other incentives, including support for books, learning materials, and uniform allowance, to the extent feasible.
Qualified PWDs need to meet the minimum admission requirements set by the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education Department, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other entities that grant scholarships and financial assistance for the education of persons with disability.
To qualify for the educational aid, each PWD applicant needs to submit a certificate of indigence, his or her report card, an endorsement from the concerned municipal social welfare officer, and identification card, Grageda said.
“For purposes of monitoring, our office is conducting regular physical inspection and list of enrollees are being submitted to the municipal social welfare office,” she added.
Grageda further assured that PWDs in Albay are given equal opportunities in employment, apprenticeship, incentives, vocational rehabilitation through training courses, livelihood and other services beneficial to them.
The provincial social welfare office also provides assistive devices and medical financial assistance. (PNA)
