USWAG ILONGGO IN NEGROS: 7,000 students receive aid, sports arena eyed

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By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY—Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Representative Jojo Ang aims to establish a sports facility in the 5th district of Negros Occidental after witnessing thousands of college students enduring the heat while waiting for their cash aid at the Himamaylan City gymnasium.

Around 7,000 students from Himamaylan City, Binalbagan, and Hinigaran availed of educational financial assistance on September 27, 2024, facilitated by Ang and Negros Occidental 5th district Rep. Dino Yulo.

Each student received PHP 3,000 in assistance.

Ang shared that he has started building sports facilities across various districts in Iloilo province and hopes to replicate this project in Negros Occidental.

“We hope to establish one sports facility per district,” he said.

“I hope that next time we hold activities like this, you’ll be bringing jackets instead of fans because the facility will be air-conditioned,” Ang added.

He emphasized plans to collaborate with Yulo and other government agencies to realize the project.

Yulo, on the other hand, noted that this was the fifth leg of educational assistance distribution in the 5th district this year. He said that he allocates around PHP 80 million annually to support 10,000 scholars in the district.

While Yulo acknowledged the importance of building barangay halls and covered courts for convenience, he said it is more fulfilling to hear gratitude from students who have benefited from educational assistance, allowing them to graduate from college.

“I think it’s a life-changing experience for them,” he added.

The lawmaker also expressed gratitude to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Rep. Ang for their generosity in supporting the 5th district’s scholars—a program Yulo initiated while serving in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental.

In addition to cash assistance, Yulo provides support for yearbooks and board examination fees to help ease students’ financial burdens.

Present during the activity were Himamaylan City Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson, Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao, Board Members Jose Benito Alonso and Rita Gatuslao, and representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VI.