More than 2000 college students at the Holy Cross College last year were granted education financial assistance through the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program of the government.
The TES is a program under the Republic Act 10931 or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Law. It was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017 and took effect in 2018. Through the TES program, college students who enroll in their local university or college may receive a grant amounting to P30,000 per semester or P60,000 per academic year.
Holy Cross College, despite it being a private higher education institution (HEI), is allowed to accept TES grantees and applicants. The school is the leading local university or college in the town of Sta. Ana, Pampanga. Only one HEI per municipality or city can process TES applications for disadvantaged college students.
Last academic year, 2,006 HCC students received the aid. The financial assistance amounted to P60.18 million for the first semester alone or P120.36 million for the entire academic year of 2020-2021.
This August, HCC released the TES refunds of students for the first semester. The students whose tuition does not exceed P30,000 per semester are eligible for a refund.
The government is yet to disburse the TES for the second semester of the previous academic year. Refunds for this may be released in December 2021 or January 2022.
Safe transactions at HCC
To claim their refunds, grantees, along with one guardian or parent, must physically go to the office of the registrar. Here, they will submit requirements and sign the documents needed for the release of the cash.
To keep the students, parents and employees safe during the face-to-face transaction, the HCC administration put protocols in place.
Students are asked to come on their given schedule for faster transactions and observance of social distancing protocols. Transactions lasted for a maximum of 30 minutes. Everyone was required to wear a face mask and face shield at all times within the vicinity of the school.
Also, to avoid contact and contamination, each student was required to bring their own pens.
To accommodate all 2,006 claimants, involved departments also operated during the weekend.
Students with valid excuses for missing their appointment were rescheduled. Those whose refund schedules overlapped with their online classes were allowed to miss the lectures.
Prior to the TES refund distribution, chief registrar Ester Muldong answered all queries on Radio Libertas’ Barkadahan sa Paaralang May Puso.
HCC is still accepting TES applicants. For inquiries, refer to this post or message us on our official Facebook account.