BAYBAY CITY , Philippines — About half of the 750 college scholars, funded from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), may no longer be able to enroll this semester, according to Rep. Jose Carlos Cari (5th district, Leyte) the other day.
Cari said he has 1,500 scholars enrolled in various schools around the district, each getting P3,000 in financial assistance, released to the schools where they are studying to cover part of their tuition fees per semester, which is between P3,000 and P8,000.
This scholarship fund amounted to P9 million, sourced from his yearly PDAF allotment of P70 million, said Cari
For the first semester, the scholars were enrolled because they were able to avail themselves of the financial assistance, but since the remaining half of the PDAF was frozen, based on order of the Supreme Court, Cari said he could no longer assured the scholars of funding for them to continue studying this semester.
"I met with them and you can see they were worried. They knew there was a problem. Nalooy ko nila, but what can I do. I estimated around half of them won't be able to enroll this semester," he told The Freeman.
Cari however said 2014 will not be much of a problem though, because "we will be submitting their names to the CHED, which have given the assurance that they will take it from there."
The congressman also said that, aside from putting his scholars at a disadvantage, the freezing of the PDAF has also taken its toll on the small projects that are usually funded from it, like school fences, water pumps, waiting sheds and infrastructures that the barangays need.
Cari further said his district still owes PhilHealth a lot. "It's a good thing they understand," he said. Asked if he would still run for Congress even if there is no more PDAF to speak of, Cari said, "Oo naman. Being a congressman goes beyond having PDAF. It's representing our people and bringing their voice to the concerned agencies." — Lalaine M. Jimenea
Cari was with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala during the interview with The Freeman. He said he invited Alcala over to the 5th district for the latter to see what can be done there in solving some problems concerning agriculture, one of which is the situation of abaca industry.
Alcala was taken to the Specialty Pulp Mill, Inc.(SPMI) at Brgy. Hilapnitan, which closed its abaca sorting plant due to lack of supply after plantations in the district and nearby towns were hit by the bunchy top virus. Around 80 abaca workers were displaced due to the problem, said Cari.
Alcala, upon discussing the matter with SPMI management, gave the Fiber Development Authority, the National Abaca Research Center and other line agencies a two-week ultimatum to come up with a roadmap to rejuvenate the industry in the area, or at least introduce stopgap measures. (FREEMAN)