The Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Caraga team of Regional Coordinators organized a virtual orientation on the Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 02 series of 2022, or the “Guidelines on the Implementation of the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) for Academic Year 2020-2021 and onwards” on April 29, 2022 via Zoom teleconferencing platform.

The orientation was attended by over 200 new TDP student grantees and TDP focal persons from various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) via Zoom. It served as an opportunity to inform the new grantees of the key changes stipulated in the MC, the documents to be submitted in accordance with the guidelines, and the roles and responsibilities of the grantees.

CHED Caraga Regional Director Dr. George M. Colorado greeted the participants at the opening of the activity with a warm message of welcome and congratulations for qualifying in the program. In his message he emphasized the value of prioritizing to finish one’s studies in order to access opportunities for a better future. 

“We have high hopes that you someday will become successful and help other people within your influence, that even in your communities, you will become a pillar of strength.”

The presentation and orientation proper for the MC No. 02 s. 2022 was facilitated by UniFAST Caraga Lead Regional Coordinator (RC) Ms. Heidi M. Paradero. In her presentation, each relevant provision of the MC was carefully and clearly articulated to the TDP grantees. 

Following the orientation, the floor was opened to the TDP grantees and focal persons for clarifications and questions regarding the previous discussion on the MC. Present to respond to the questions were RCs Ms. Paradero, Ms. Daisy Grana, and Accountant Mr. Neil Mart Von Ronquillo.

The activity for the afternoon ended with a message from Chief Education Program Specialist Dr. Julia Felisa Martinez.