By: Delaila Irma T. Calindas, Project Technical Staff II

A total of nine (9) episodes were accomplished for this year’s online series of orientation sessions for the Project ACCESS or Acquainting In-Coming College Entrants on Scholarships and Grants-in-aid System. The episodes conducted from May 16 to May 22, 2023, were able to reach a total of 500 participants consisting of graduating Senior High School (SHS) students and Alternative Learning System (ALS) learners from various provinces in the Region. The project was able to upscale its reach by inviting attendees from regions 1, 2, and 3.

Among the schools who virtually attended are Aguinaldo National High School, Apayao National Industrial Agricultural High School, Bacsay Dagupan National High School, Banaue National High School, Capitan National High School, Casiciaco Recoletos Seminary, Conner Central National High School, Consuelo National High School, Data Center College of the Philippines – Bangued, Ifugao Provincial Science High School, Ifugao State University, Lawig National High School, Pinto National High School, Pio Dalim Memorial School of Arts and Trades, Rizal National School of Arts and Trades, Saint Tonis College, Sipa-Imelda National High School, Sta. Filomena School of Arts and Trades, Sta. Marcela National High School, Taloctoc General Comprehensive National High School, Tanglagan National High School, Tublay School of Home Industries, University of Abra Senior High School, and Western Abra National High School.

Quality-assured Higher Education Institutions in the Region were featured as part of the program proceedings. Afterwhich, the different financial assistance programs offered by CHED and UniFAST were highlighted. The Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) Unit presented the details of the CHED Merit Scholarship Program (CMSP) while the UniFAST Unit presented the grants-in-aid programs mandated by Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA).

The project is in partnership with the Department of Education – Cordillera Administrative Region (DepED-CAR). Dir. Cariño, as well as the different Schools Division Superintendents, relayed their support and felicitations to CHED-CAR for making the Project ACCESS possible as it brings hope and opportunity for the underprivileged students.

In her message, Dir. Cariño expressed, “Project ACCESS opens an exceptional opportunity for our young to pursue their education. This region-wide orientation that you have initiated for the Senior High School learners as well as those in the Alternative Learning System is yet an attestation of your commitment towards excellence in higher academic and institutional achievements which overall supports the fulfillment of our vision and mission as educational partners.”

As an innovation on this year’s series of orientation sessions, a career talk accentuating the importance of lifelong learning and settling the foundation of a productive career was incorporated. Dr. Geraldine S. Orasing, Special Science Teacher III of the Philippine Science High School – Cordillera Administrative Region Campus, served as the Resource Person on the said topic.

Project ACCESS is an IEC campaign of CHED-CAR and a brainchild of its Director, Dr. Demetrio P. Anduyan Jr. It aims to orient potential undergraduate enrollees of the opportunities and accessible financial assistance programs in higher education. To know more details about CMSP, visit http://faster.chedcar.com/. For programs under UniFAST, visit https://unifast.gov.ph/.