NCotabato scholars urged to comply with rules, help in peace effort

NORTH COTABATO, Philippines - Charmie Bautista, an incoming 4th year college student, was among hundreds that promised to study diligently during a dialogue with provincial officials last Tuesday.

Bautista is one of the 1,171 college students whose schooling is being bankrolled by the office of North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza under the Provincial Scholarship Program (PSP).

Mendoza had again called on PSP scholars, during a gathering at the provincial gymnasium in Kidapawan City, to religiously abide by the rules of the scholarship program, aimed at providing poor but deserving students a chance to pursue college with the help of the provincial government.

Bautista told reporters she would keep her commitment as a “sacred promise” to comply with the terms-of-reference stated in the scholarship contract binding her and the PSP.

“This is a very big help to me because my parents are poor and they can’t afford to finance my college education. Soon I will graduate from college,” Bautista said.

Mendoza had also prodded PSP scholars, during their dialogue at the provincial capitol, to engage in peace-building activities.

The dialogue was meant to remind PSP scholars of their obligation to comply with the rules for them to remain as scholars until they graduate from college.

Norito Mazo, provincial coordinator of PSP, said the program now has 1,171 beneficiaries, including those taken in just recently.

Mazo said 229 PSP college scholars are to graduate in 2015. He said 300 scholars finished college during the school year 2013-2014.