DLSU raises scholarship fund to P2 B

MANILA, Philippines -  The De La Salle University (DLSU) is waging a fund-raising drive to raise as much as P2 billion for an ambitious scholarship program, making up to 20 percent of their student population in all their 17 schools or campuses throughout the country “full scholars”.

The One La Salle Scholarship program will be one of the undertakings embarked on by the university as it celebrates its 100th anniversary of providing quality education to the Filipino youth.

Br. Ricky Laguda, FSC, president of De La Salle Philippines, said that the P2 billion scholarship fund raising drive started with a P1 billion target when it was envisioned by then De La Salle Univesity president and chancellor, and now Education Secretary Armin Luistro in 2009.

But having reached the P1 billion target recently, Laguda said De La Salle raised the target to a much daunting P2 billion, “to ensure sustainability of the program” and ensure that the full scholarships to be given poor but deserving children that are awarded the scholarships finish their education with the scholarship benefit.

“The goal is to make it sustainable, maintaining our scholars at 20 percent of our total student population. With a student population of 90,000 in all our 17 schools, that would be 18,000 scholars benefitted by the program,” Laguda told the STAR in an interview.

Laguda shared that the additional P1 billion fund raising target was 50 percent achieved as of a couple of months ago and they hope to raise more with a number of fund-raising activities slated in the remaining months of the year.

“The Lasallian mission is to provide a human Christian education to those who need it. We make Lasallian education accessible to those who need it most. If you cannot afford our education, we will find the means for you,” Laguda said.

Former De La Salle Philippines president Br. Luistro shared that he was passionate in his advocacy in increasing the number of scholars in De La Salle schools, since he