MORE than half a million in educational assistance were distributed by the provincial government of Negros Occidental in the last two days starting Thursday, August 25 in the cities of Sagay, Cadiz and Escalante Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson led the distribution of the financial aid to 69 members of the indigenous people’s (IP) group.
Negros Occidental’s Scholarship Program head Karen Dinsay said that 27 students from Cadiz city belonging to indigenous people’s group, 23 from Sagay and another from Escalante received a total of P382,500 in cash on Thursday.
The distribution was conducted in Sagay City’s Barangay Puey and was attended by Board Member Rita Gatuslao, Sagay Mayor Narciso Javelosa and Milina Jeruta of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) - Negros Occidental.
In San Carlos City, Province’s First District Board Member Rommel Debulgado and San Carlos City Mayor Renato Gustilo led the distribution of similar financial aid to 18 IP students in the locality’s Barangay Codcod yesterday, August 26.
Dinsay explained that the financial assistance is under the scholarship category, Educational Assistance for IP’s Basic Education (EAIBE), and the beneficiaries are elementary and high school students who are members of the IP.
She said their own tribe leaders identified the qualified recipient, who were asked to submit their report card and identification card.
For his part, Lacson said that the provincial government is always supportive of the IPs and wants to provide them with an opportunity to finish their studies.
He said that IP students excel in school given the right opportunity and support to their studies, citing the number of IP scholars who recently graduated with Latin Honors.
Lacson pledged to increase the number of IP scholars who will benefit from the Provincial Government’s scholarship program.