ILOILO – Ninety-six indigenous peoples are college scholars of the Iloilo provincial government this academic year 2018-2019.
They are entitled to P31,000 worth of financial assistance every academic year.
These scholars are currently enrolled in state-run universities and colleges in the city and province of Iloilo, said Dr. Neneth Q. Pador, chief of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.
Most of them (75) are from the 3rd District, particularly the municipalities of Calinog, Janiuay and Lambunao, PSWDO records showed.
Capitol scholars receive P2,800 every month as board and lodging and food allowance, and P2,000 and P1,000 every semester as book allowance and uniform allowance, respectively.
Now on its third year, the scholarship program for indigenous peoples admitted 11 scholars during the academic year 2016-2017 and 14 for the academic year 2017-2018.
Pador said the scholarship aims to give indigenous people children a chance to get into college, which may help them uplift the lives of their families.
“Better information dissemination” may have led to the rise in the number of scholars this year, she added.
Capitol allotted P2.8 million for the college scholarship of indigenous peoples this year.
The following are the requirements for the natives to qualify for the scholarship:
* certification from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
* certificate of residency from their barangay
* certificate of indigency from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office
* high school report card
* identification documents
* annual family income of not more than P150,000./PN
