High school graduates who are thinking of taking up a course in nursing would have an opportunity to have their four years of college education subsidized. This is possible through the initiative of the Development Bank of the Philippines Endowment for Education Program (DEEP).

The DBP launched this program to guarantee that the Philippines would have sufficient number of competent professional workers that will have opportunities in both local and global employment arena.

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said that DEEP is offering special scholarship program for poor but deserving students who wish to be become nurses or seamen. The first scholarship program was designed for nurses because it is very in-demand in the Philippines and abroad. Soon, the DBP would also give the same scholarship grant for those who want to be a seaman.

Bunye said, “What is unique about this program is that funds will be released in advance to participating schools, relieving scholars of the burden of having to re-apply every semester.”

The press secretary also informed that the first 545 applicants have already taken the nursing scholarship entrance exams conducted through DBP’s partner-schools that include St. Louis University, Our Lady of Fatima, Cebu Normal University, Mindanao State University, West Visayas State University, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.