A total of five hundred students and new graduates of Central Mindanao University (CMU) have been granted financial aid and work experience through the KALAHI-CIDSS Cash-for-Work Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, an initiative designed to assist financially challenged students and new graduates while providing them with practical work opportunities. The program culminated at the Maramag Municipal Gymnasium on October 16.
CMU, through the Office of Admission, Scholarship, and Placement (OASP), facilitated the application process for beneficiaries, ensuring that students and graduates in financial need were able to participate. The OASP, led by Dr. Cherly Cordova, also coordinated the deployment of the beneficiaries to various offices within the university, enabling them to work and contribute to CMU’s operations.
In her message of support, Dr. Cordova highlighted the program’s positive impact: “CMU is very much grateful for the opportunity brought by the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Cash for Work Program (CFW) where 500 slots are given to CMU graduates and current students who are in need of financial assistance.”
Through this program, CMU beneficiaries received PHP 428.00 daily rate for 90 days, accumulating a total of PHP 38,520.00 each with a total payout of roughly PHP 20 million—it has a significant contribution to the lives of CMU students and graduates, providing them not only financial assistance but also valuable work experience.
Dr. Cordova further emphasized that the program fostered a sense of accountability and financial responsibility among beneficiaries. “It instills the value of earning money through hard work and gives students exposure to real-world work environments,” she added.
Moreover, University President Dr. Rolito G. Eballe expressed his gratitude to the DSWD and Senator Marcos for their support. “This program has not only provided much-needed financial assistance to our students and graduates but also gave CMU the benefit of additional manpower in our offices. We are hopeful for a continuation of this initiative,” he said during the program’s culmination.
Many beneficiaries, including Maria Josefa Vega, a BS Biology student, shared personal testimonies of how the program helped them overcome financial challenges and gain confidence in the workplace. “The KALAHI-CIDSS Program has been a blessing. It allowed me to support myself financially and helped me grow personally,” Vega stated.
The KALAHI-CIDSS Cash-for-Work Program at CMU is part of a broader effort to address poverty and provide livelihood opportunities to individuals in need, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty. CMU hopes for a continuation of the program to further support more students in the future [Iyren Dalipe Neri].