Syjuco shrugs off Tupas blabber, bares over P12M TESDA grants in N. Iloilo
Impartial, first-rate, at par and fair. While at it, over P12 million in paid scholarship grants since the start of the program and said figure only for the Fifth District of Iloilo.
Such summed up the clarification of Secretary Augusto Boboy Syjuco on the isolated criticism hurled against the release of scholarship grants from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda). Secretary Syjuco is the Director-General of TESDA.
Authored by Fifth District Congressman Niel Tupas Jr., the Ilonggo solon lodged a public outcry on what he said was the alleged unfair treatment of Secretary Syjuco on his constituents.
Records now released by Tesda proved otherwise though. Turned out, Congressman Tupas was not apprised nor aware that to date, 1,810 scholars in Northern Iloilo have availed of Tesda grants. Total Tesda payments made has reached P12,107,945.
In a summary of scholarship availment report obtained by The News Today (TNT), the Fifth District started with 24 scholars in 2006 with P210,000 in full scholarship grants paid. In 2007, the number ballooned to 727 with P7,320,000 in grants paid and 361 in 2008 with nearly P2 million in Tesda payment.
As of June 11, 2009, scholars in Northern Iloilo totaled 638 with the 460 here enrolled at the Leon Ganzon Polytechnic College (LGPC) at Balasan, Iloilo. Target scholars for LGPC is 1,200 for 2009 with 1,050 qualified thus far and payment made of over P1.6 million for training cost and allowances.
The Northern Iloilo Tesda scholars qualified under Tesda’s Barista Course, Commercial cooking, Household Services, Agricultural Crops Production, Engine Seafaring and Deck Searing among others.
“The scholarship grants are for all deserving students as intended by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo,” Secretary Syjuco explained. “I do not understand where Congressman Tupas is coming from with his complaints. But this I am sure - I will not be intimidated by him…we have our priorities and guidelines set. We have the list in place and he is in that list. What we cannot do is alter the schedule of releases to please him…No, I will not be intimidated at all.”
Incidentally, Tesda services have been rated “VERY GOOD” by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in “exhibiting the value of customer care and meeting the expectations of the transacting public for prompt, courteous, responsive, facilitative and pleasant service.”
The CSC citation was made in the conduct of the latest Public Service Delivery Audit.