BORONGAN CITY (PIA) -- Representative Ma. Fe R. Abunda, through her Congressional District Office in Borongan City, implements the 'Tulong Dunong Program' (TDP), one of the programs of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) for the college students.

According to Rep. Abunda, the program is a financial assistance, or financial aid, that will be used for enrolment of the college students for their miscellaneous expenses such as books, allowances, boarding house, and transportation.

Further, a student can benefit from this program if they will enroll in their first undergraduate course in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the province recognized by the SUCs and Private Higher Educational Institutions (PHEI) which are under the CHED - Registry Programs and Institutions.

Abunda disclosed that each college student will receive P7,500 for every semester or P15,000 for the calendar School Year 2023-2024.

Abunda further said that there are only three requirements to be submitted such as Certified True Copy of Registration Form/Enrollment Form, Barangay Certificate of Indigency, and TDP application form with 2x2 pictures.

Out of 22 municipalities and one city in Eastern Samar, there are 13 Program Coordinators per District Office located in the municipalities of Arteche, Oras, Dolores, Can-avid, Taft, Llorente, Quinapondan, Jipapad, Guiuan, Salcedo, Balangiga, Lawa-an, and Borongan City.

The requirements were submitted to the CDO program coordinator. Once the requirements are accomplished and submitted to the CDO, the students will be notified through a Notice of Award (NA) from PHEI. After the processing and approval from CHED, the PHEI will distribute the assistance to qualified beneficiaries.

The TDP is open for all students who will enroll in the 2nd semester of 2023-2024 in the SUCs.  (SDC/PIA-E. Samar)