News feature: DAR honors agraryo scholars in East Visayas

By Erlinda Olivia P. Tiu

Saturday 21st of July 2012

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, July 21 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has feted 13 recipients of the Programang Agraryo Iskolar (PAI) in Eastern Visayas who completed their college education and earned bachelor’s degrees,March this year.

Eliasem Castillo, DAR regional director, presented certificates of recognition to the scholars during the culmination rites of the 24th anniversary celebration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) June 28 at the DAR regional office.

Castillo said that of the 13 scholars who graduated this year from different state universities and colleges in the region, seven were from Samar; three from Eastern Samar; two from Leyte; and one from Southern Leyte.

The successful Programang Agraryo Iskolars are Ginalyn Agravante, Niel Alvarez, Angelita Bote, Madel Noval, Jayson Rolio, and Jessalyn Ocenar who all finished Bachelor of Agriculture Technology at the Northwest Samar State University, while Ma. Liza Beldad finished Bachelor of Secondary Education from the same institution.

The other honorees were Gregorio Boco who took up BS Secondary Education Major in Mathematics, Rommel Walohan who finished BS Elementary Education, and Jessalyn Ellado who finished BS Business Administration, all at the Eastern Samar State University.

Jovy Caidoy took up BS Elementary Education at the Visayas State University, Jenilyn Clemencio took up BS Technology major in Home Economics and Livelihood Education at the Eastern Visayas State University, and Joseph Igpan finished BS Industrial Education from the Southern Leyte State University.

Igpan, in his testimony, recognized that without PAI it would be impossible for him to finish college education because his farmer-parents are really hard up and cannot afford to send him and his other siblings to school.

Igpan did not waste this opportunity, determined, he took advantage of DAR’s scholarship program to realize his dream.

On his graduation day, he not only made his parents and the DAR management proud, he served as an inspiration to other youths.

DAR-8 Information Officer Jose Alsmith L. Soria said that the PAI, which the agency considers as among its major accomplishments in improving the lives of the farmers, was introduced in 2003 to dependents of agrarian reform beneficiaries and had already produced over a hundred graduates in Region 8.

During the celebration of the 24th year Anniversary of CARP in the region, DAR highlighted the gains of CARP in Region 8 by showcasing the programs and projects realized during its 24 years of implementation through photo exhibit and introduced the products from the different agrarian reform communities (ARCs) in a trade fair. (PIA8 with DAR8)