Taguig gov’t hikes city scholarship fund to P600 M in 2016

MANILA, Philippines - Taguig City’s scholarship fund for its residents has been increased by P100 million this year from the P500 million last year, the city government reported Tuesday.

According to the Taguig City government, the scholarship fund more popularly known as the Lifeline Assistance for Neighbors In-need (L.A.N.I.) scholarship program began in 2011 with a P100 million budget which the previous administration had allocated for the city’s garbage collection needs. The fund had been increased by P100 million year after year since 2011.

Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano expressed confidence that the program that has so far aided over 30,000 scholars will continue to help Taguig students obtain technical and vocational education, college, masters and even doctoral degrees.

"By now we are absolutely sure we invested the city's hard-earned funds in developing its most precious resource: our children. We invested wisely in human capital and now we are reaping its benefits. This is a priceless legacy that we want to be remembered for," Mayor Cayetano said.

"Our gratitude goes to members of the City Council who affixed their stamp of approval to the program not only by voting to continue the scholarship grant but increasing it again by P100 million. And most of all, we thank the Taguig taxpayers for making this fund even possible," she added.

Since the establishment of the LANI scholarship fund, 70 scholars have graduated with honors while 13 have topped board examinations for nursing, engineering and nutrition.

"Some of them are now employed by the city government and serve as our nurses, nutritionists-dieticians and engineers. They chose to serve the city and pay forward the scholarship that helped them achieve their dreams," said Cayetano.

As of November last year, the LANI scholarship program has 30,000 scholars. The LANI scholarship program covers technical and vocational courses, degree courses, graduate studies, medicine, law, and examination reviews.