MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go on Wednesday expressed concern over the reported delay in the release of benefits under the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP), a subsidy scheme for students.

​The senator raised the matter during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education on issues affecting the education sector.

Prompt release of educational aids sought

​Go bemoaned that many students remain unaware of the assistance available to them through the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).

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​“We hope the CHEd could look into this matter. Some of the students have already graduated before they were able to receive their [scholarship] grant,” Go said, speaking in Filipino.

​He added that in some cases, it took one or two years before TDP beneficiaries received their financial aid.

​Go sought clarification from CHEd on whether the continuity of benefits under the TDP remains intact. He noted that support should be consistent until graduation. “There are many CHEd scholarship programs available to our college students. There’s the Tertiary Education Subsidy, which is merit-based.”

​He said that CHEd has another program designed to help students who may not necessarily be honor students but are struggling financially to complete their degrees.

​“There’s the Tulong Dunong Program scholarship which does not require a maintaining grade as long as the student passes [the subjects],” Go said.

​He added that the student population should be informed of the existence of these subsidies.​

“We have to promote these scholarships,” Go said.

​He appealed to fellow senators to work together in supporting scholarship programs, noting the importance of education in uplifting the lives of Filipinos.