AFP-EBSO MOA-Signing
with 8 Caraga Colleges and Universities
in educating dependents of soldiers
August 19, 2008
Dottie's Place Convention Center, Butuan City
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Col Emiliano R Gupana II (GSC) PA, Commander of the 402nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army welcomes the school heads/administrators, guests, recipients and participants to the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between AFP and the eight higher educational institutions of Caraga in sending descendents of military personnel to school and avail of scholarship grants offered by the said schools. The program is spearheaded by the AFP Educational Benefit System Office headed by its Chief and General Manager, Lt. Col. Alexander Ambal. The MOA-signing was held on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at Dottie’s Place Hotel and Restaurant in Butuan City. (PIA-Caraga)
Rev. Fr. Chito “Kits” Butardo (3rd from left), Vice President of Father Saturnino Urios University (FSUU) in Butuan City, the first and only homegrown university in Caraga signs the MOA committing five slots per year covering full tuition and matriculation fees. The educational benefit is applicable to any undergraduate course except Nursing and Law. The program may be availed by dependents of combat casualties. Also in photo are (from left to right): Col. Emiliano Gupana, 402nd IB Commander; Maj. Gen. Ricardo David, Commanding General of the 4th ID; and a school official of FSUU. (PIA-Caraga)
Sister Merceditas Ang (3rd from left), President of St. Paul University – Surigao City Campus (SPUS) signs the MOA and commits to provide five slots covering full tuition discount wherein the educational benefit shall be applicable in any undergraduate course offered by the school and the program may be availed by dependents of and active and inactive military personnel. Representing the AFP are (from left to right): Col. Emiliano Gupana, 402nd IB Commander; and Maj. Gen. Ricardo David, Commanding General of the 4th ID. Also in photo is a school official of SPUS. (PIA-Caraga)
After signing the memorandum of agreement committing to provide unlimited slots covering full tuition fee discount, Holy Child Colleges of Butuan (HCCB) President Dr. Rodulfo Esteves (4th from left) receives the token of appreciation from Maj. Gen. Ricardo David Jr., 4ID Commanding General of the Philippine Army. The educational benefit offered by HCCB is applicable in all educational level from elementary to college and master programs, and the program shall apply to all dependents of active and inactive military personnel. Also in photo are (from left to right): AFP Educational Benefit System Office (AFPEBSO) Chief and General Manager, Lt. Col. Alexander Ambal; Col. Emiliano Gupana, 402nd IB Commander; and Maj. Gen. Ricardo David, Commanding General of the 4th ID. Also in photo are two of the school officials of HCCB. (PIA-Caraga) 
Lt. Col. Alexander Ambal, Chief and General Manager of AFP Educational Benefit System Office (AFPEBSO) explains to local media the mechanics of the scholarship program that are also embodied in the memoranda of agreement which were signed by eight colleges and universities in Caraga whose main objective is to provide full scholarship slots and tuition fee discount to children of soldiers, giving priority to orphans of those who were killed-in-action, during the press conference held after the MOA-signing on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at Dottie’s Place Hotel and Restaurant in Butuan City, and was facilitated by PIA-Caraga. Also in photo is Robert Roperos (2nd from right), Planning Officer of PIA-Caraga moderating the presscon. (PIA-Caraga) 