BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO – Scholars of the Iloilo provincial government were given recognition during the Pasidungog 2023 at the Grand Xing Imperial Hotel on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
Each of the 226 beneficiaries of the Iskolar sang Iloilo Program (ISIP) from Batch 23 and 24 received a certificate and cash incentives.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. led the ceremony with Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Human Resource Management and Development Office (HRMDO) chief Atty. Renee Valencia and provincial board members.
Of the 226 scholars, 86 were from Iloilo Science and Technology University, 64 from West Visayas State University, 31 from Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, 27 from Northern Iloilo State University and 18 from the University of the Philippines-Visayas.
From them, 117 graduated with Latin honors — 52 magna cum laude and 65 cum laude.
ISIP offers a full scholarship grant to poor but deserving senior high school graduates, particularly Ilonggo students who want to pursue their college education in state universities and colleges.
This program is part of the provincial government’s third strategic goal under the Defensor administration, which aims to improve the Ilonggos’ quality of life through education.
During his speech, Defensor advised the scholars to take advantage of and maximize the assistance that was given to them. He also boasted of being a product of a public school.
“You do it for yourself, for your career. You do it for your family and even better for your country,” Defensor said.
The provincial government allots an annual budget of P24 million for ISIP.
Each scholar receives P3,500 per month for housing, food and fare allowance; P3,000 per semester for learning resource assistance; and P2,500 per graduating scholar for thesis or research allowance.
Honor incentives are also given, such as P7,000 for summa cum laude; P5,000 for magna cum laude; P3,000 for cum laude; and P1,000 for graduates.
As of 2023, ISIP has produced a total of 951 professionals, which consist of agriculturists, criminologists, doctors, engineers, lawyers, statisticians, and teachers, among others.
Meanwhile, 29 are now working at the Iloilo Provincial Government, of which 21 are permanent employees and eight are contract service workers.
Former Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. paved the way for establishing ISIP in 1996. (With a report from Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo)/PN
