Daily Tribune‘There is no greater fulfillment in public service than seeing public resources change lives. Every scholar we support is a reminder that the government can and should be a force for hope, progress, and lasting change.’
Rep. Duke Frasco stands alongside a group of bright and ambitious scholars in the 5th District of Cebu. The events, held in the Municipalities of Poro and San Francisco highlight the importance of education and the commitment to empowering the youth of the community. With Frasco leading the way, they discuss future opportunities, share their aspirations, and reinforce the value of academic excellence underscoring the collaborative efforts to foster a nurturing environment for learning and growth in the district.
Photographs courtesy of rep. duke frasco
Cebu’s 5th district Representative Vincent Franco “Duke” Domingo Frasco has helped over 100,000 individuals get their education through the DF Scholarship Program.
According to Frasco, education is the greatest equalizer.
“Education opens the door to opportunity — not just for individuals, but for entire families and communities in Cebu’s 5th District,” he said.
“If we can support one student’s dream, we begin to change the future of the entire district, one scholar at a time,” he added.
As of date, 107,137 scholars have accomplished their education through Frasco’s program.
The scholarship program began in 2017, helping 2,793 scholars in the municipality of Liloan, Cebu, before expanding into a district-wide initiative.
In the 2024–2025 school year, a record 22,580 students received scholarships and financial aid — the highest number since the program began in 2017.
“These scholarships aren’t about giving dreams — they’re about supporting them,” Frasco said. “The dreams already belong to the students. We’re just making sure they have the chance to reach them,” Frasco said.
Recipients of the DF scholarship have expressed their gratitude to the lawmaker for helping them achieve their dreams.
One of them was Ivonie Gingco, a graduate of the Bachelor of Elementary Education degree cum laude from Cebu Technological University — Danao Campus. She received the Best Research Paper Award in her batch.
“To Duke Frasco, thank you for the educational assistance. I was able to finish my studies and reach this special day because of your support. I graduated — and I did it with flying colors,” she said.
Another graduate, Cyrel Dosdos, thanked Frasco for his program’s assistance in education.
Dosdos is a graduate of the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Cebu Institute of Technology — University (CIT-U).
His academic journey initially faced setbacks due to the high tuition fee at CIT-U, which was P50,000 — an amount his family couldn’t afford. His mother was a stay-at-home wife, and his father, who is blind, urged him to leave school and find work instead.
After being rejected by the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), Cyrel was ready to hang up his sleeves — until a grant from the Commission on Higher Education offered partial relief. Frasco’s office extended financial support, which helped him stay enrolled and pursue his dream.
“Thank you, Congressman Duke Frasco,” Cyrel said. “Your support gave me a second chance. I carry the weight of everyone who believes in me.”
Beyond extending aid through his office, Frasco also coordinated with national government programs to bring more scholars to schools.
For the 2024–2025 school year, the lawmaker tapped into the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide educational assistance to 10,297 students through the AICS program.
“There is no greater fulfillment in public service than seeing public resources change lives. Every scholar we support is a reminder that the government can and should be a force for hope, progress, and lasting change,” he said.
The DSDF Scholarship Program has continued to expand — not only in the number of scholars, but in the impact it has on their lives.
Frasco said each graduate represents the real difference that accessible education and support can make. As more students finish school, they take with them not just a diploma, but the expectations and hopes of the people around them.
