“This is the biggest crowd we’ve seen,” said SHEFA Chairman Jose C. Mafnas as he looked at the students lining up under the scorching heat of the sun.
SHEFA distributed the checks for the spring 2011.
The Department of Finance recently informed SHEFA of the status of its three separate requests to process financial assistance checks for the spring term.
One of the requests was made on April 14 for $587,700, Mafnas said.
A student, who declined to be identified, said the delay in the release of checks had a great impact on their studies.
If SHEFA cuts down scholarship awards, “we won’t be able to finish our career,” she said.
SHEFA is funded by poker license fee collections which have been declining due to the bad economy.
Mafnas said he sympathizes with the students.
“I am also saddened,” he said, but added that poker revenue is no longer enough to maintain the scholarship program.
For this month, he said 10 poker machines were not renewed and some poker arcades chose to close down even though their licenses had yet to expire.
Earlier this month, Mafnas, who works for the Division of Revenue and Taxation, said they are expecting 45 poker machines to be renewed from June to December.
He reiterated that SHEFA is seriously considering making adjustments to its financial assistance program.
Mafnas, in the recent board meeting, noted the decreasing poker revenue.
He said an adjustment is needed to ensure the continuity of the program.
“I wish we don’t have to do it,” he told Variety yesterday.
Another student, who also requested anonymity, said it is unfortunate that SHEFA has to rely only on poker revenue.
“They should look for other funding sources,” he said.
The awards committee of SHEFA vice chairman Josephine T. Sablan is expected to come up with a final recommendation on the adjustment of scholarship awards for the fall 2012.
