By Oliver Ross V. Rivera
After 2 years of fruitful endeavor and partnership with IOM, 139 MDG-YEM scholars coming from the different identified six (6) schools within the Province of Maguindanao had successfully completed their secondary education.
Out of the Total 179 MDG-YEM scholars, 139 were in fourth year level while the remaining 40 were in third year level.
On March 28 and 29, 2012, IOM and OWWA-ARMM Team headed by RWO-ARMM OIC Director Amy B. Crisostomo, and Mr.Miguel Martin Meñez, IOM. Jr. Programme Assistant and Ms. Rahima Alba, IOM-Maguindanao Field Coordinator witnessed the graduation rites of the scholars.
IOM and OWWA are very proud that most of the recipients of the Education Subsidy landed in the top 10 of their graduating class. The education subsidy’s aim at first is only to increase participation and retention rates of the youth in secondary education in the identified places.
“We just wanted to improve their school participation and retention rates but the students gave more than what we asked for. They graduated with honors.” OIC Crisostomo said.
Normala M. Bulingkig of Maguindanao National HS in her Valedictory Address expressed her heartfelt gratitude to IOM and OWWA not only for the financial help but most especially for the moral support and inspiration to strive more and dream big.
Mr. Meñez who represented Mr. Ovais Sarmad, IOM-Head of Mission, awarded the medals to outstanding SES recipients and delivered the message of the IOM-Head of Mission to the graduates.
The MDG-YEM Education Subsidy Scholars from Maguindanao National HS, Talayan NHS, Parang NHS, Datu Saudi UyAmpatuan Memorial NHS, Mamasapano NHS and Buluan NHS likewise were given caps, shirts and bags from IOM.
This program is spearheaded by IOM Philippines under the Joint Programme on Youth, Employment, and Migration (YEM); Alternatives to Migration; Decent Jobs for Filipino Youth funded by the MDG Achievement Fund (MDG-F), International Labor Organization (ILO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with OWWA-ARMM, DOLE, DepEd, DSWD, DTI, NTC, TESDA, PLGU-Maguindanao and ORG-ARMM.
Among the salient features of the subsidy are a fixed amount of no more than P500 for school-related fees and miscellaneous expenses as authorized by the Department of Education, fixed monthly allowance of P1,000, and other support costs for special needs such as psycho-social support, remedials, and others.
