TABUK City, Kalinga, a picturesque and modest city cradled by the Cordillera mountain range, is home to dreams often shaped by the challenges of rural life. It is here that Shellybelle Agustin Pinera, a third-year Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student at Kalinga State University, has woven her aspirations against the backdrop of financial constraints and familial responsibilities.
Like many students across the Philippines, Shellybelle represents a generation of dreamers whose academic pursuits are made possible by the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)—a program supported by Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.
As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Youth, Senator Go has continually emphasized the transformative power of education. “Ang edukasyon ay mahalaga upang mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang mga kabataan,” he often asserts in his public addresses.
True to his words, Go has co-sponsored legislative measures that reinforce the government’s commitment to inclusive and quality education for all Filipinos. By bolstering initiatives like CHED’s TDP, he bridges the gap between financial challenges and academic success for countless students like Shellybel.
For Shellybelle, this is more than just a scholarship; it is a lifeline in the face of adversity. Her family’s circumstances—her mother’s ongoing recovery as a stroke patient and her father’s role as the family’s primary caregiver—leave little room for financial stability. With her older sister working overseas to help make ends meet, Shellybelle shoulders not only her dreams but also the responsibility of easing her family’s burdens.
The scholarship she receives through the program allows her to pursue her studies while providing for her younger brother’s education.
“This financial assistance gave relief… naginhawaan po ‘yung family ko,” Shellybelle shared earnestly. “At least naman po, matulungan ko po sila… lalo na po ‘yung working OFW na sister ko… Maraming salamat po… sana po ipagpatuloy n’yo po… nang sa ganon, katulad ko po, maginhawaan din po ng kahit konti,” she said.
By providing financial support, the program helps students meet expenses that extend beyond tuition—books, school supplies, and other necessities that often weigh heavily on families.
This advocacy is in line with Go’s legislative efforts, such as the recently enacted Republic Act No. 12077, or the Student Loan Payment Moratorium During Disasters and Emergencies Act, which he co-authored and co-sponsored to provide temporary relief for students with outstanding loans during emergencies.
His efforts also include co-authoring and co-sponsoring several significant laws, such as Republic Act No. 11510, or Institutionalizing the Alternative Learning System (ALS) to improve basic education delivery to underserved and disadvantaged student; RA 11984, or The “No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act,” which ensures students are not barred from taking exams due to unpaid fees; RA 12006, or The “Free College Entrance Examinations Act,” waiving entrance exam fees for qualified top students in private higher educational institutions; and RA 11997, or The “Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act,” which increases teaching supply allowances for public school teachers.
Senator Go also co-authored Senate Bill No. 1360, which seeks to expand the tertiary education subsidy under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, enacted during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. These legislative measures reflect his proactive approach to ensuring that students—regardless of socioeconomic background—can access quality education.
“Hinding-hindi ko po sasayangin yung pagkakataong ibinigay nyo po sa akin. Magtatrabaho po ako para sa Pilipino. At iyan po ang pwede kong i-alay sa inyo, ang aking kasipagan dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo,” said Go who is known as Mr. Malasakit for his compassionate service to Filipinos in need.
