President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received a Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila during its 58th Commencement Exercises Thursday at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
Marcos said he accepted the recognition with gratitude and with an understanding of the responsibility that comes with it.
According to the president, the honor also reflects shared views between his administration and PLM on the importance of education as a pathway to opportunity, development and nation-building.
In his speech, Marcos said the government continues to expand access to higher education and financial assistance.
He said 2.62 million students are now benefiting from free higher education.
The president also cited scholarship and financial assistance programs, including the Tertiary Education Subsidy and Tulong Dunong Program. He also mentioned the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program, which was launched for outstanding senior high school graduates who will pursue priority degree programs.
Marcos also said technical-vocational education and training is being strengthened through the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
After attending the PLM commencement exercises, Marcos traveled to Batangas to inspect an egg processing facility in the municipality of San Jose.
The facility is intended to process eggs into pasteurized or powdered egg products to extend their shelf life.
The processed eggs are targeted for introduction to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for use in disaster relief operations and by the military.
The activities in Pasay City and Batangas focused on education recognition and government initiatives involving higher education, financial assistance, technical-vocational training and food processing.
The PLM recognition came as Marcos addressed graduates during the university’s commencement exercises, while his subsequent Batangas visit included an inspection of a facility designed to extend the usable life of eggs through processing that day.
