Scholars formerly funded by PDAF will continue studies, says Palace

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MANILA — Scholars formerly funded by the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers will still study, Palace official ensured on Sunday.

Presidential Communication Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., said the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will make sure that their scholarship will not be disrupted.

“Tungkulin (ito) ng Commission on Higher Education. Bahagi sa kanilang taunang programa na pinopondohan ng ating pambansang pamahalaan ay iyong paggawad ng mga scholarships at tulong pinansiyal sa mga mag-aaral, lalung-lalo na sa mga kolehiyo at pamantasan,” said Coloma in a press briefing aired over radio station dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Sunday.

“Ayaw po nating mapariwara iyong kalagayan ng mga estudyante na nag-aaral. Nais nating maging tuluy-tuloy iyong kanilang pag-aaral at matulungan sila sa pagtapos ng kanilang mga kinukuhang kurso,” Coloma added.

An estimated 100,000 scholars will be affected as Congress no longer include PDAF in the 2014 national budget.

Formerly, each House of Representative members and Senators receive PDAF in their respective annual budget for their “hard and soft projects.

” Included in the “soft” projects are the scholarship programs and medical assistance.

Last year the Supreme Court declared the PDAF unconstitutional.

“Hindi po natin papabayaan na mapariwara ang kanilang sitwasyon at basta na lang hindi sila makatapos. So hinahanapan po ng kongkretong solusyon ang bagay na iyan,” Coloma asserted.