THE children of the 44 Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) commandos who were killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, whose scholarship benefits have been approved, will benefit further from the increased educational assistance provided by the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Sr. Supt. Bartolome C. Tobias, National Police spokesman, said on Monday that the SAF 44 beneficiaries have been notified to coordinate with the regional offices of the Napolcom for the release of their scholarship benefits.
As a prerequisite for the release, however, they must submit proofs of enrollment with corresponding receipts or a copy of fees assessment from the school.
Earlier, the Napolcom issued Memorandum Circular (MC) 2015-001, which prescribed a new schedule of tuition and miscellaneous expenses granted to SAF 44 beneficiaries and children of deceased or permanently incapacitated police personnel.
Under the revised rate, Napolcom scholars should already receive P10,000 for tuition and miscellaneous expenses per school year for kindergarten scholar; from P12,000 to P18,000 per school year for elementary scholar; from P16,000 to P24,000 per school year for secondary education scholar; from P12,000 to P18,000 per semester for vocational scholar, and from P22,000 to P30,000 per semester for college scholar.
“The financial benefits of elementary, secondary and vocational scholars are increased to 50 percent, while college scholars are granted a 36-percent raise per semester,” the Napolcom Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Eduardo Escueta said.
Under MC 2015-001, all grantees and beneficiaries of the Napolcom Scholarship Program shall receive an increase in financial benefits which will now cover the K to 12 Program, or the enhanced basic education program, Escueta added.
“The Commission finds it necessary to increase the scholarship benefits to Napolcom grantees-scholars, as well as adjust the standing policy on entitlement for the grant of scholarship in order to cope with the continued inflationary cost of tuition and miscellaneous school expenses prescribed by the different institutions of learning and in consideration of the K to 12 Program,” Escueta said.
Escueta added that the award of financial scholarship benefits for tuition and miscellaneous expenses to the Napolcom scholar shall be paid directly to the school, in which they are enrolled or reimbursed to the said scholar by the commission upon presentation of their approved enrollment or registration form and official receipt of payment.
Escueta said that the scholar should always strive for excellence as he or she is required, during a specified semester or school year, to maintain an average academic grade of 2.75, or 80 percent, per semester, for college and vocational levels, and 80 percent or its equivalent every school year for secondary and elementary levels.
On January 25 44 police commandos were killed by members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, during an operation against Jema’ah Islamiyah bomb expert Abdul bin Hir alias, Marwan.
Marwan, an Indonesian, was killed by the commandos although they were also slain by Moro bandits who ambushed them in an overwhelming number.