ILOILO CITY – A total of 96 indigenous people (IPs) are recipients of the college scholarship program of Iloilo’s provincial government, through its Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).
According to Neneth Pador, head of PSWDO, said Thursday they are the third batch of beneficiaries of the scholarship program for IPs, which aims to provide equal access to free and accessible education for them to obtain a college degree,.
Most of these scholars are from the third district of the province where most IPs reside, particularly in the towns of Calinog, Lambunao and Janiuay.
Pador said the number of IP scholars tremendously increased this year because of their advocacy and the provincial government’s aim to assist more IPs so they would be equipped with educational competencies to find job opportunities.
The scholarship program, which began in 2016, had only 11 scholars and 14 scholars in the past two years.
“Hopefully, we will have more scholars next year because they are now aware of the scholarship program,” she said.
Pador said these IP scholars are currently taking up various courses in the different state colleges and universities in the city and province of Iloilo.
She said some of them are taking up courses in agriculture and education.
“Each scholar is receiving PHP31,000 every year,” she added.
Specifically, each scholar receives an allowance of PHP2,800 per month for their transportation, food and lodging, PHP2,000 for books per semester, and PHP1,000 for uniform per school year.
The provincial government has allotted PHP2.8 million for the scholarship program this year, Pador said.
PSWDO has partnered with its Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO) and hired some psychologists from the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas to help conduct exams and interviews for the applicants.
Beneficiaries have complied with all the requirements, such as: certification from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) to prove that they are really a member of the IP; certificate of residency from village chief; certificate of indigency from the municipal SWDO; and report card or valid ID. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
