A Helping Hand Near the Finish Line
GENERAL SANTOS CITY - For students who have spent years working toward a college degree, financial assistance during their final stretch can make a meaningful difference. Five graduating students from Barangay Lagao were selected as Presidential Scholars under the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang program, according to the supplied barangay announcement. The broader scholarship initiative was introduced during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to General Santos City, where he explained that each barangay would identify five scholars to receive PHP20,000 each. The funding comes from the portion of the Socio-Civic Projects Fund allocated for scholarships. The program specifically targets students who are close to graduation and need additional financial support.
Lagao Students Join a Citywide Group of Scholars
The five Lagao beneficiaries form part of a larger group of Presidential Scholars recognized during the General Santos City rollout. The Presidential Communications Office reported that 130 scholars in General Santos City were addressed by President Marcos during his visit to Lagao Gymnasium. Under the program's structure, ₱100,000 of each barangay's PHP200,000 allocation is intended for education, with five selected scholars receiving PHP20,000 apiece. The Philippine Information Agency likewise reported that the initiative provided scholarships alongside community assistance and rice aid. This places the Lagao students within a wider city program intended to direct part of barangay-level funding toward students nearing the end of their college journey.
Education Assistance With a Clear Purpose
The scholarship carries a straightforward objective: help students finish what they have started. During his General Santos address, President Marcos encouraged the scholars to take their education seriously and make use of the opportunity. The program's design also reflects that focus, since the assistance is directed toward students who are already close to completing college. For the five graduating scholars from Lagao, the support can therefore be viewed in practical terms—as educational assistance arriving at a crucial point in their studies. More broadly, the program demonstrates how a portion of barangay funding is being directed toward human capital, with education placed alongside community needs in the Bawat Barangay Makikinabang framework.
