NEGRENSE scholars who are now in Darwin, Australia are urging the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental to continue its scholarship program, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said Wednesday, November 16.
Lacson said that this was relayed to them by the scholars during their week-long trip to the capital of the Northern Territory in Australia.
"Our scholars from Negros Occidental have no regrets in going to Darwin (as) they also never felt any discrimination, which is a positive thing," he said.
He added that the intention of the Negrense scholars is to stay there, hoping to secure a permanent residency which will lead to being Australian citizens.
"We will be sending more scholars next year," the governor assured, but stressed that there is a lot of work to be done considering that Darwin is four times the size of Negros Occidental with a population of only 250,000.
"Obviously they lack manpower (and) they have big plans (since) they have a diverse nationality there. After the Australians, Filipinos are the next biggest population which is 8,000," he noted.
Lacson also said that Negrense scholars in Darwin have Filipino guardians when they arrived there.
He also credited Consul General Januario Rivas, who is from Kabankalan City, in helping Negrenses.
“We are looking at additional training for our local disaster risk reduction personnel and bringing in semen to improve our livestock,” Lacson added.
Currently, there are at least 30 provincial government 30 scholars in Darwin, Northern Territory of Australia, he said, adding that "it is easier to get residency and citizenship when you're there."
The most in-demand jobs are in the health services but they are looking for many skilled workers in the construction industry like welders, Lacson added.*