QUEZON CITY, Aug. 14 — The National Police Commission (Napolcom), in coordination the Philippine National Police has given educational assistance to the children and beneficiaries of the 44 slain Special Action Force (SAF) members covering their expenses until they finish college.
A total of 46 children were granted the Educational Assistance Certificates. Meanwhile, out of the 89 requests from other beneficiaries (siblings, niece and nephews), 43 were granted a scholarship programs from Presidential Social Fund (PSF) and 17 from Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 25 are still completing the documentary requirements and four (4) have deferred and withdrawn their requests.
The NAPOLCOM has amended its educational assistance program, wherein, the rules and laws were liberally interpreted to accommodate illegitimate children as beneficiaries of the educational assistance and adapted the following changes such as the K-12 program was taken into account; Vocational scholarship now includes TESDA short term course; and amounts of assistance were increased:
· Kindergarten per school year – P10,000.00
· Elementary education per school year – P18,000.00
· Secondary education per school year – P24,000.00
· Vocational per semester – P18,000.00
· College per semester – P30,000.00
Moreover, as of July 24, 2015, surviving kin of the SAF 44 have received a total of P69,566,524.88 in lump sum benefits, P1,016,995.70 pension benefits and P35,367,333.00 donations from the Senate of the Philippines, Congress, Local Government Units (LGUs), PNP, other government agencies and private donors.
Some LGUs likewise extended directly financial assistance to the families not coursed through PNP, thus not recorded by the PNP. Also, an undetermined amount of donations from other private donors was also extended directly to the families. (PNP)
