TESDA announces new scholarship program

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 18, 2009) – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) announced Wednesday the new Pangulong Gloria Scholarship (PGS) program, replacing the PGMA-Training for Work Scholarship (PGMA-TWSP).

The PGS now comes with a better package as it now provides training support fund or allowance to trainees, TESDA said.

Training fees are also increased so the scholars will no longer provide counterpart funds. Assessment fees are also covered in the scholarship package, it added.

Unlike the PGMA-TWSP where scholarship voucher was awarded to individuals, the PGS now adopts a group training scheme. At least 15 to 25 scholars are needed to be able to start a training program, according to TESDA.

The program is part of the government’s economic sustainability plan to reduce unemployment and underemployment in the face of the financial crisis gripping the global economy.

TESDA said it is also aimed to assist the poor and deserving Filipinos to enroll in job-directed training programs and earn the corresponding qualification that will enhance their employability without cost to the scholars.

The objectives of the PGS are to produce a pool of qualified and globally competent workforce which is "job ready"; to develop skills and competencies of the unemployed and the underemployed individuals through training programs of pre-employment skills upgrading and; productivity among others.

It said interested applicants can visit TESDA office in Zamboanga City.

TESDA is an agency under the Department of Labor and Employment responsible for managing and supervising technical education and skills development in the Philippines. (Joy Wee)

235 Poor Students Get Scholarship Grants In Zamboanga City

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / September 11, 2008) – A Filipino lawmaker granted scholarships to over 200 mostly poor, but deserving students in Zamboanga City in Mindanao island.

Rep. Maria Isabelle Climaco and representatives from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) handed over checks to finance school expenses and the allowances of 235 students on Thursday.

Fifteen students were also granted scholarship certificates from the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The scholarship program, Climaco said, is part of her project and included in the solon’s legislative agenda and being implemented through the CHED regional office.

Most of the scholars are students from the Western Mindanao State University, the Zamboanga State Polytechnic College, Zamboanga State College Marine Sciences and Technology and TESDA.

Climaco, a native of Zamboanga City, is an advocate of children and women’s rights and active in humanitarian missions here. She also founded the “Escuela de la Infancia,” and one of the most influential politicians in Zamboanga City. (Mindanao Examiner)

200 Graduate From Vocational Schools In Davao City

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 22, 2008) – Some 200 vocational scholars graduated from various courses in Davao City in the southern Philippines under the “Oplan Kaalam” program.

The program, launched by House Speaker Prospero Nograles, is aimed at helping poor but deserving students in pursuing their career. The scholars were also given financial allowance during their studies.

Lawyer Karlo Nograles, son and chief of staff of the lawmaker, represented his father in the graduation ceremony which was recently held at the CAP Auditorium here. Those who graduated hailed Nograles’ scholarship program.

In his speech, the younger Nograles urged the graduates to be responsible citizen and help in nation-building now that that they have the necessary skills for them to find a descent job.

He said his father’s Oplam Kaalam program will continue in an effort to help moiré deserving scholars. (Romy Bwaga)

500 Davao Students Benefit From Scholarship Grant

Lawyer Karlo Nograles, son and chief of staff of House Speaker Prospero Nograles distributes scholarship vouchers to some 500 mostly high students during a simple ceremony Davao City. (Mindanao Examiner Photo / Romy Bwaga)

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / August 14, 2008) – Hundreds of high school students in Davao City benefited from a scholarship grant extended by House Speaker Prospero Norgrales and the Department of Education.

The students, who were mostly from poor families came from 23 different schools and had been granted each some P5,000 scholarship assistance, said lawyer Karlo Nograles, the son and chief of staff of Rep. Nograles.

He said the financial grant is given to poor students who graduated from public elementary schools and are currently enrolled in private high schools. The grant was given to the students in a ceremony in Barangay 35-D.

The younger Nograles said the program is being implemented nationwide by the Department of Education in order to assist parents in coping with the financial demands of transferring their children to private schools.

”Not all parents can afford to bring their children to a private school, but for those who have barely enough to transfer their child to a private high school, this is one way that government can help,” Nograles said.

Under the program, each city and province is allocated a number of scholarship vouchers. But only recently, the vouchers for Davao City had increased. "Originally, only 50 scholarship slots were made available for the entire Davao City but due to the effort of Speaker Nograles, the Department of Education added 500 more scholarship vouchers for students of the First District of Davao," the lawyer said.

To qualify for the scholarship voucher, the student's family monthly income must not exceed P17,000 a month. "Once a student qualifies under the program, the financial assistance will be used to pay for his yearly tuition every school year until he finishes high school, provided they do not receive any failing grades," the young lawyer said.

He explained that education is one of the main thrusts of his father since the speaker believes having a good education offers a better future for students.
Out of the 500 slots, 350 were given in the First District and rest in the Second and Third Districts.

Liza Capuyan, a mother of two high school students who received the scholarship assistance, expressed gratitude to the lawmaker for the initiative. “The financial assistance will greatly help in the education of my children, especially nowadays, where everything is expensive,” she said.

Rep. Nograles has been in the past advocating for a comprehensive education program in Davao City. His scholarship grant starts from high school to college and even in post-graduate courses.

”Aside from the high school scholarship grants, the Speaker through his Oplan Kaalam program, also offers scholarship grants for college, vocational, and even masteral courses. Those who wish to avail of our scholarship grants need only to visit our office along Quirino Avenue in Davao City or coordinate with our barangay leaders,” the young Norgrales said. (Romy Bwaga)

PECOJON 2007 Blue Ink Awards Now Open

BACOLOD CITY (Mindanao Examiner / 10 Jun) - The Peace and Conflict Journalism (PECOJON) 2007 Blue Ink Awards is now open for competition.

The Blue Ink Award grants the winners a full scholarship covering full academic tuition and fees for the M.A. Conflict and Reconciliation (MA CRS) major in Conflict Journalism degree at the University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City in Negros province in the central Philippines.

The award is non-transferable and non-exchangeable for cash.

PECOJON is the Peace and Conflict Journalism Network, established in 2004 by Filipino journalists trained in conflict-sensitive reporting.

PECOJON has now around 200 members in the Philippines and around 50 foreign members all over the globe. The Blue Ink Award aims to identify and train potentially excellent writers in conflict-sensitive journalism.

Interested applicants must write and submit an investigative feature story on any conflict-based issue related to the Philippine elections of 2007.

The story must be written from an objective and analytical perspective and provides a better understanding of the chosen issue, especially in terms of addressing human needs.

It must be around 1000-1500 words, on letter-sized paper with 1-inch margins all around, double-spaced and using Times New Roman 12 font.

The story must be accompanied by at least one related photo and at least one other related visual material, or two related photos.

The ten best submitted stories will be published in its international PECOJON Magazine.

Applicants, in submitting their stories, grant first publication rights to PECOJON in return for their printed bylines. These ten stories will be the basis for selecting the winner/s of the Blue Ink Award.

Applicants must also submit their curriculum vitae along with their feature story and two accompanying visual materials via email to pecojon@pecojon.org and a copy to pecojon@gmail.com. The deadline for submission is at 12 noon of June 18, 2007.