by Anjanette V. Nemiaga
DIPOLOG CITY, April 16 (PIA) - - Eleven student-schOlars of the “Programang Agraryo Iskolar” of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) have recently graduated from their college degrees for school year 2011-2012 at the different campuses of the Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU) in Zamboanga del Norte.
Jobert Lopina, one of the 11 scholars, of JRMSU-Katipunan Campus graduated “Cum Laude” from a Bachelor of Science in Agri-Business Management. The other scholars also received awards for their exemplary performance in extra-curricular activities during their recognition day.
Six of these 11 graduates finished their studies at JRMSU-Katipunan campus, four at JRMSU-Tampilisan campus and one at JRMSU-Dipolog campus.
It can be recalled that DAR has institutionalized the Programang Agraryo Iskolar, which was formerly called as the President Diosdado Macapagal Agrarian Reform Program (PPMMASP). It is an innovative human resource development activity initiated by the agency in support of the beneficiary development program of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reform (CARPER).
The program provides a two to four-year scholarship grant to poor but deserving dependents of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who cannot afford to send their children to college. With this, the program has dovetailed a major item to bring the benefit of education to as many poor families in the entire country.
The scholarship grant covers the scholar’s tuition and miscellaneous fees not exceeding P1,500.00 per semester, a monthly stipend of P1,000.00, and an allowance of P500.00 to pay for books, school supplies and materials.
The grantees are encouraged to take up agriculture-related courses in state universities and colleges to contribute to the modernization of agriculture in the countryside and sustainability of the lands awarded to farmer-beneficiaries under CARP.
The scholarship program, which is now on its 7th year implementation, is open to all qualified dependents of ARBs in all municipalities of the province where CARPER is being implemented.
Qualified respondents may either be the sons and daughters of the ARBs, grandchildren of ARBs, and wards of ARBs who are the legal guardians of the applicants. Only one member of each ARB will be qualified to become a grantee, however.
As of this year, nine scholars are still pursuing their studies in the different campuses of JRMSU in the province under the DAR-Programang Agraryo. (FPG/AVN/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)
