In a toast to the heroic deeds of government workers, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo formally launched last week the Pondong Pamanang Lingkod Bayan and Scholarship (PPLBS), a project that will provide financial and educational assistance to the families of public servants killed in the performance of their duties.
During the launching ceremony, the President turned over a P1-million check from the President’s Social Fund as seed money of the PPLBS endowment fund.
The check was received by Civil Service Commission (CSC) Chairman Ricardo Saludo and Dr. Lauro Tacbas, president of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) in simple ceremonies at the Rizal Hall of Malacanang.
The PPLBS was conceptualized by the CSC to honor dedicated public servants who devoted their lives to the service of their country and people.
The President received from Saludo and Tacbas a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) forged last Aug. 1 between CSC and PASUC to provide scholarships in the 110 SUCs to the spouse or children of civil service personnel, including teachers and policemen, who died in the line of duty.
Saludo said a similar MOA will be signed between the CSC and the University of the Philippines (UP). The country’s premier state university will be represented in the MOA-signing by UP President Emerlinda Roman who was present at the PPLBS launching.
The President also handed P20,000 in financial assistance to Galileo Banaag Sr., husband of the late Nelly Banaag, who had been conferred by the President the Dangal ng Bayan Award.
Banaag, an election supervisor during the May 2007 election, was among those killed when the Pinagbayanan Elementary School in Taysan, Batangas was burned down by armed men.
Under the program, the family of the slain public servant will receive a one-time financial assistance of P20,000 and scholarships for three PPLBS beneficiaries.
Under the PPLBS program, the first beneficiary will be granted full scholarship; the second a 75-percent discount on tuition and school fees; and the third beneficiary a 50-percent scholarship grant.
If the slain public servant has no family, the program can be availed of by his or her siblings, Saludo said.
