1st SGPPA Students Congress: A Break to Breath

   

        The two-day SGPPA Congress was meant to be a long vacation for the SGPPA Grantees from the bulk and pressure of their academic requirements and a moment of pausing from thoughts of teachers and lessons. The Congress cum SGP-PA Consultation and Meeting was held at Eden Nature Park and Resort in  Toril, Davao City last July 30 -August 1, 2014 with the theme: “Madasigong Kabataan alang sa Madaugon nga Kaugmaon”. The event was highly participated by the SGP-PA grantees in different State Universities and Colleges (SUC’s) together with the partner agencies: Commission in Higher Education (CHED), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s). The congress aimed to identify issues, gaps and concerns among beneficiaries, formulate policies and guidelines for better implementation of the program and lastly, the draft a strategic plan concerning the issues.

         Dr. Raul C. Alvarez Jr., Regional Director of CHED XI, opened the program and generously gave his words of wisdom to the grantees. In the afternoon sessions, SGP-PA grantees showed their prowess and abilities in brainstorming suggestions, opinions and recommendations for SGPPA issues discussed in the group forum. After the intense educational debate, breath taking performances during the “Solidarity Night” among SUC’s grantees put the venue down.

            The next day, the tour around Eden Nature Park and Resort made the grantees held their breath. All participants were amazed with the beauty of nature and considered the experience as one of a kind. “I am so happy that I was chosen to represent DNSC. Experience such as this is worth remembering and made me realize how special is SGPPA to CHED.”, said of one of the DNSC participants of the congress.

The program was closed by awarding and giving of certificates to the participants. 
(Danica Sangilan, 2^nd Yr SGP-PA).