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

For hundreds of student‑grantees, financial support turned a decisive corner as banking access met educational opportunity during a LANDBANK Account Opening Orientation spearheaded by the Commission on Higher Education–Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED‑CAR). Through its UniFAST Unit and in partnership with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK), CHED‑CAR conducted the activity for beneficiaries of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) of King’s College of the Philippines (KCP) on May 13, 2026. The event, organized in coordination with KCP, brought together 277 student‑grantees for a crucial step toward the seamless release and responsible management of their financial assistance.

Dr. Angie Bugtong, Executive Vice President of KCP, formally welcomed the participants and described the gathering as “a beautiful day for a beautiful event.” She underscored the importance of the orientation, noting that it equips student‑grantees with essential knowledge on accessing and managing their stipends—an integral part of ensuring that government support reaches its intended beneficiaries efficiently.

CHED‑CAR OIC Regional Director Dr. Serafin L. Ngohayon delivered his message through a recorded video, where he encouraged the students to practice financial prudence and responsibility, emphasizing that their stipends will be directly credited to their individual accounts. He also challenged the beneficiaries to begin cultivating habits that would lead them toward financial independence, highlighting the long‑term value of disciplined money management alongside academic success.

The orientation proper was led by the LANDBANK La Trinidad Branch team, headed by Branch Manager Genaro Dumpayan. The representatives guided the student‑grantees through the step‑by‑step process of opening their PISO Plus Accounts using the LANDBANK Mobile App. Designed to be accessible to students, the LANDBANK PISO Plus Account is a basic deposit account requiring a minimum maintaining balance of only Php 1.00.

UniFAST Unit Regional Coordinators Ms. Delaila Irma T. Calindas and Ms. Danielle G. Galong were also present to assist the student‑grantees throughout the activity, answering queries and ensuring the smooth facilitation of account opening and related concerns.

As the session drew to a close, Ms. Calindas reminded the beneficiaries of the importance of keeping their accounts active to prevent delays in the disbursement of stipends. She emphasized that the strong collaboration among CHED, UniFAST, and LANDBANK reflects the government’s continued commitment to streamlining processes and enhancing the delivery of student financial assistance.

The program concluded with Mr. Peter Moulic, KCP Focal Person, who provided clear guidance on the submission of bank account details, reinforcing coordination and compliance among the grantees.