4Ps scholar gives back by repairing laptops for free in Tarlac City

A 22-year-old computer programmer, who was a Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) scholar, is offering free laptop repair services to students as the country transitions to blended learning amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

According to Oscar Oida’s report on “24 Oras” on Monday, more than 100 students have already reached out to Mark Anthony Perez since he launched his repair services in August in Barangay Tibag in Tarlac City.

Students from the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Pangasinan have also tried to contact him to avail of his free services.

Perez, who works from Tuesday to Friday, said he dedicates his free time to help other students because it is his way of giving back after having been granted a government scholarship.

The 4Ps program is is a human development measure of the Philippine government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18.

Perez is also encouraging people not to throw away old, damaged laptops and that they donate these so he can repair them.

“Ine-encourage ko rin po ‘yong mga tao na mayroon pong mga sirang laptop, mga ‘di ginagamit na i-donate po sa akin para maayos ko at mabigay sa mga batang wala pong magamit na laptop,” he said. -- Ma. Angelica Garcia/BAP, GMA News