Under the expanded scholarship program of the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, through the leadership of Governor LRay Villafuerte, over ₱86 million in scholarship grants were awarded to more than 8,600 student-beneficiaries across the province’s five districts. 

The distribution, which covered the second semester of the 2025-2026 academic year, took place during a two-day event on March 4-5, 2026 at the Capitol Complex, Pili. The scholarship grants were tailored to each student’s tuition and total assessment fees. 

Leslie Nicolas, a 19-year-old Nursing student from Naga College Foundation and a resident of Butawanan, Siruma, expressed her gratitude upon receiving a check amounting to ₱64,640, which covers her full tuition fee.  

“Maogma po ta nagkakaigwa po ako ning benefits digdi like nale-less po ang gastos ko sa pagbayad ning tuition kasi mataas din po talaga ang tuition sa Nursing. Almost two years na din po akong scholar. Sa tabang po kaini, dai na po ako nasasakitan na maray magbayad ning tuition since dakula man po ang nakukua kong scholarship,” said Nicolas.

She furthered, “Ang programa pong ini is dakulang tabang kasi natatawan po kami ning magayon na future and natatabangan makapagtapos. Thank you po sa Province of CamSur sa dakulang tabang sa mga students.” 

For students enrolled in tuition-free institutions, the Provincial Government offers educational assistance amounting to ₱5,000 to help cover other school-related expenses.

Among the recipients was Aron Sarmiento, a 20-year-old Information Technology (IT) student from CBSUA Sipocot and a resident of Aslong, Libmanan. Having benefitted from the program for over two years, he shared how vital this support has been for his education.

“Magayon po sa pagmati, dakula po na pasasalamat ko sa program na ini ta dakulon pong nabebenepisyuhan na mga estudyante. Ini po, nakakabawas-bawas po sa mga gastusan po kang sakuyang parents and nakakaogma po ta nakakasali po ako digdi and natatabangan po ako personally and ang sakuya pong studies,” shared Sarmiento.

“Nakakadugtong po ining programa kung tano dakulon pong estudyante ang makaka-graduate dahil sa financial assistance. Dakulaon po ining pagbabago sakuya kasi ini po nakakataong motivation sako na magpadagos pa po sa pag-adal. Bilang representante kang gabos na mga estudyante digdi, nagpapasalamat po ako lalo na sa satuyang namumuno na si Governor LRay ta padagos lang po ang programang ini,” he noted.

Sarmiento also shared that he plans to use the educational assistance to cover expenses for his capstone project and proposal defense.

During the event, Governor LRay Villafuerte personally awarded the scholarship grants and encouraged all provincial scholars to excel in their academic pursuits. 

“Kang nakaagi, labing 30,000 na po ang natatabangan ta sa bilog na probinsya [asin] dadagdagan pa. ‘Yan po ang misyon [asin] bisyon kan samuyang pamilya, kan samuyang pag-iribanan, na an saindong mga aki makatapos. Aram ko kadakol pagsubok, mahirap ang buhay pero kahit papano, aram po nindo na dai kami nagpapabaya,” said the Governor.

He also highlighted infrastructure projects and innovative programs, such as the CamSur Uptown, CamSur Terminal Exchange, and the Google Chromebook Facility, which will create opportunities for students— specifically providing jobs once they graduate.

Governor Villafuerte also stressed, “Sa mga aki, joven na yaon digdi, magpursige kamo sa pag-adal. Ang asikasuhon nindo ang makatapos kamo. Naghahanap kami ning oportunidad na pagkatapos nindo, magkaigwa kamo ning hanapbuhay, trabaho. Habo mi nang magpa-Naga kamo, magpa-Manila, o mag-abroad, ang gusto mi magtrabaho kamo digdi sa CamSur!” 

The scholarship program continues to serve as a pillar of the Provincial Government’s mission to strengthen and champion the local education sector.