THE National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Davao City is looking for Indigenous People (IP) students to support through its educational assistance program (EAP).
NCIP-Davao City head Cristituto Ingay said the commission is open to help preferably high school graduates who want to obtain college degree through its educational program.
Ingay said the commission is willing to provide P10,000 per semester to IP youths who would like to pursue a college degree, with a grade average of at least 83 percent and up.
"This is only cash assistance for those who would like to avail the EAP. It may not be enough, but we would like our IP sisters and brothers to grab this opportunity," Ingay said.
Ingay said though he does not have the exact figures, but until now the illiteracy rate on the IP sector is high, and they want the IP to obtain adequate education for themselves.
"The effort to provide educational assistance for our IP brothers and sisters is for them to uplift their economic status and also their social status as Indigenous People," he said.
Ingay said there is a problem of looking for students who can fill up the scholarship slots from the IP sector in the past as some lack the desire to finish schooling. He added that the NCIP is hoping that the IP youths will avail the program.
The NCIP-Davao is also calling its respective partner agencies from the government and non-government to continue helping them in providing educational assistance for the IPs.
Poor but deserving members of the Indigenous Cultural Communities or Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) who are high school graduates or college level within or covered by the jurisdiction of NCIP Regional Office can avail of the program.