NZ ASEAN Scholars awards alumnus walks his green talk

MANILA, Philippines - In 1990, Tom Valdez was a newlywed about to complete his masters degree in regional environmental planning when an opportunity to study in New Zealand under the New Zealand ASEAN Scholars (NZAS) awards came.

Emphasis on development-related degrees is a key feature of the NZAS awards. Funded by the New Zealand government through the New Zealand Aid Program, NZAS invites Filipinos to pursue postgraduate degrees in fields such as climate change adaptation and renewable energy. Other eligible fields of study include agriculture, tourism, governance, public sector management, trade, development, and disaster risk management.

 â€œWhen I was informed of the possibility that my wife could join me, it really sealed the deal.  I entered Massey University’s Master of Resource and Environmental Planning program.”

 Under the NZAS, scholars’ spouses may be given a work visa and their children a student visa. The issuance of visas for spouses and children are subject to Immigration New Zealand rules and regulations.

 Today, Valdez is the vice president for corporate social responsibility of San Roque Power Corp (SRPC). “I got into this because I believe in taking care of the environment by providing sustainable energy. I take charge of explaining the project to the public,” he says. SRPC handles the hydroelectric component of the San Roque Multipurpose Project (SRMP).  

 Valdez shares that his studies at Massey University trained him to use multiple points of view when assessing a project. “It all boils down to method. When your expertise is very technical, you tend to focus on just one aspect of the project. In planning, you need to look at all aspects of development. You should be able to understand engineering, economic impacts, environment -- you’ll be a generalist.”   

 Interested applicants may contact Reina P. Lino, NZAS Programme Administrator of Bato Balani Foundation Inc., at email bbfi@diwamail.com or at tel. no. (632) 8925462. Further information, including eligibility criteria and application forms, can be found at the New Zealand Embassy website http://www.aid.govt.nz/funding-and-contracts/scholarships/eligible-countries/philippines