DCWD assists 12 new tribal scholars

TWELVE new scholars of different tribal descents are being assisted by Davao City Water District’s (DCWD) Tulong Aral sa Lumad scholarship program starting June of this school year. They are enrolled at the University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) Mintal campus.

The scholars, their respective courses and tribes are: Marben Subuan, Brilly Jey Samonte, Rodel Olantao and Sherry Ann Soboy of the ObuManuvu (all BS Business Administration); Camille Alion (BS Public Administration) and Jessica Talay (BS Business Administration) of the Obu-Manuvu/ Klata; Ediza Alimorong and Gerylle Arboleda (BS Public Administration) and Emma Tungkalan and Chona Desierto (BS Business Administration) of the Bagobo-Tagabawa; and Reynard Francis Flores (BS Community Development) and Ermel Abonales (BS Business Administration) of the Bagobo-Tagabawa/ Klata.

They are entitled to free tuition and miscellaneous fees of not more than P7,500 and uniform and textbook allowance of P2,500 per semester, monthly transportation allowance of P800, meal allowance of P1,400 and housing allowance of P600 for five months or for the whole semester.

DCWD general manager Edwin V. Regalado congratulated the new scholars and encouraged them to maintain the required general average of 80 percent every semester for them to continuously avail of the incentives from DCWD until they graduate college.

He cited as motivating examples the two Obu-Manuvu scholars, Veronica Binulang and Maljun Lambac who recently graduated from college last April and another continuing Obu-Manuvu scholar, Rhesa Ingay, who is now on her fourth year taking up BS Business Administration.

DCWD’s Tulong Aral sa Lumad scholarship program is open to all high school graduates from Toril, Tugbok, Baguio and Marilog districts. To qualify, interested applicants must be 15 to 25 years old with at least 80 percent average grade in the senior year. Also among the requirements are barangay clearance, certification from the tribal chieftain and certification from the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) or Office of Muslim Affairs, whichever is applicable, attesting their tribe membership and the registration of their chieftains.

Lastly, the applicants must pass the qualifying exam of Usep Mintal campus, which is the host university of said scholarship.

Aside from the tribal scholars, DCWD also supports four other academic scholars who are studying at Usep Obrero campus.

They are: Daniel Mediante, 5th year, BS Mechanical Engineering; Emy-Mhar Concon, 4th year, BS Civil Engineering; Xena Gancino and Krizzia Heizel Rosales, 3rd year BS Civil Engineering.

Their benefits are free tuition and miscellaneous fees of not more than P7,500 and uniform and textbook allowance of P2,500 per semester, monthly transportation allowance of P1,200 and meal allowance of P1,600 for each month of every semester.

(Jamae G. Dela Cruz)