(Cong. Velasco distributing educational assistance to part of the first batch of recipients)Congressman Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco recently distributed certificates of full scholarships to students of two technical and vocational institutions in Marinduque. One of them, is the Torrijos Poblacion School of Arts and Trades (TPSAT). The scholarship covers full training and assessment costs ranging from Php 4,000 to Php 10,500 each for enrollees taking up programs in Food and Beverage Services, Commercial Cooking, Bartending, Housekeeping, Front Office Services and Refrigeration and Air-Condition Servicing.
Similar scholarship grants have been distributed by Velasco to students of Buyabod School of Arts and Trade (BSAT) taking up courses in Baking/Pastry Production, Food Processing, Computer Hardware Servicing, Automotive Servicing, Auto Engine Rebuilding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding, Shielding Metal Arc Welding, Food and Beverage Services, Housekeeping and Bartending.
The combined scholarship programs for the two schools amount to Php 1-million benefitting 159 students. This number is expected to further increase within the year with more applicants to benefit under a new arrangement between Congressman Velasco and TESDA whereby the latter will provide counterpart funding of 100% for funds provided by the Congressman from his Priority Development Assistance Fund. These programs are registered under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), mandated to provide direction, policies, programs and standards towards quality technical education and skills development. Applicants for these programs undergo an entrance examination and interview set by the school’s guidance counselors to determine and suggest which program best suits the applicants. TESDA then ensures jobs for technical and vocational graduates and the programs’ continuity to give more students the chance to get jobs and better quality of life.
(Congressman Velasco at MSC with MSC president Romulo Malvar on the mic during a luncheon meeting)Meanwhile, the distribution of educational assistance for college students who availed themselves of financial assistance under the Velasco Achievers Program are scheduled on February 10, 11 and 12, 2011. This includes the first batch of students already enrolled during the first semester and new recipients for the current semester.
(Mr. Erick Abad, Velasco's Chief of Staff for Marinduque Affairs assists in the distribution together with Ms. Jenilyn Elle (seated)These students are presently enrolled in Marinduque colleges, namely, the Marinduque State College (MSC), Marinduque Midwest College (MMC), St. Mary’s College of Marinduque (SMCM), Educational System Technological Institute (ESTI), Sta. Cruz Institute (SCI),and Malindig Institute (MI). Also included are a number of college students who have received financial assistance from sources other than the Velasco program during previous semesters but decided to avail themselves of the Velasco Achievers Program.
Congressman Velasco’s District Office in Boac continues to receive applications for these grants from qualified applicants who have obtained a grade of at least 80% on the average or its equivalent during his/her last enrollment. Contact person is Ms. Jenilyn Elle. 
(Ms. Jenilyn Elle)Ms. Elle explained that recipients of financial assistance under this program receive an amount of not less than Php 2,500 per student. She also stressed that exceptional, full-merit students are provided full scholarships under a special program with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), that entitles them to scholarships amounting to Php 15,000 each per semester.
