Over 4,000 military dependents avail of scholarship program

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday vowed to intensify its efforts in aiding more military dependents avail of its free education program as the number of beneficiaries rise to 4,129 in February 2018.

Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Garcia, chief of AFP Public Affairs Office, said the number is expected to increase as they continue the scholarship generation activities, which is being spearheaded by the AFP Educational Benefit System Office (AFPEBSO) nationwide.

Citing a report from AFPEBSO, Garcia noted that 769 beneficiaries are in the National Capital Region (NCR); 1,408 in Luzon; 499 in Visayas; and 1,453 in Mindanao.

Garcia said all beneficiaries were benefiting from scholarships consisting of law-mandated programs and those by virtue of partnerships with educational, government, socio-civic, and financial institutions.

“Among the benefits being received by current AFPEBSO grantees are free tuition and miscellaneous fees, monthly stipend up to 120,000 per year, food and transportation allowance,” he said.

Garcia said the AFPEBSO has over 290 scholarship partners as of February 2018, including around 280 academic institutions and foundations that have entered into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the AFP.

Just recently, Garcia said the AFPEBSO renewed its partnership with the Mercury Drug Foundation Inc. in providing full scholarships to students completing bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy.

Garcia emphasized that the AFPEBSO has been managing educational programs to qualified dependents since its activation in 2000.

“It caters mostly to the disadvantaged orphans whose parents have died or were incapacitated in combat. Other beneficiaries are dependents of non-battle casualties, active and retired soldiers, and Civilian Employees of the AFP,” he said.