SAN FERNANDO City, La Union (PIA) — The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Ilocos is opening 26 slots for students from the region for its Fisheries Scholarship Program.
This grant is given exclusively to those incoming grade 12 for the academic year 2024-2025 and senior high school graduates who want to enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries program.
To qualify for the examination on October 19 (tentative date), aspiring scholars must meet three main criteria:
- The Fisherfolk Children Education Grant (FCEG), a grant offered to children of registered fisherfolk (Fish-R) or Mangingisdang Juan. Twenty slots are available for this category.
- The Fisheries Industry Leaders Grant (FILG), awarded to students who belong to the top 10 of their graduating class. Three slots are available for this category.
- Lastly, the Indigenous Peoples Grant is a scholarship program open to members of the indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) and indigenous peoples (IPs). Three slots are available for this category.
If fit to the major qualifications, students must have a general weighted average (GWA) of at least 80 percent over the last three consecutive semesters of senior high school from any track for FCEG and FILG, and at least 75 percent for the ICCs/IPs.
Aspiring scholars must submit their requirements including duly accomplished and signed FSP application based on their main qualification, original PSA birth certificate, certified true copy of good moral character, and two recent 2×2 pictures on white background.
Additionally, a photocopy of Fish-R identification card or certificate of registration of parent issued by their municipal agricultural office (MAO) or BFAR for FCEG, certification that the student belongs to the top ten of the graduating class certified by the school head for FILG, and certificate of tribe membership issued by National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Entries can be submitted either at their municipal agriculture offices (MAOs) or directly to the BFAR Ilocos Regional Office in theGovernment Center, Barangay Sevilla until August 15.
Aspirants can choose to enroll in one of the state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Region 1, which include Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in Santo Tomas, La Union; Pangasinan State University (PSU) in Binmaley, Pangasinan; Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) in Currimao, Ilocos Norte; and Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College in Narvacan, Ilocos Sur.
Meanwhile, they can also be admitted to other SUCs outside the region that offer fisheries courses such as the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) in the Science City of Muñoz Nueva Ecija, University of the Philippines in the Visayas (UPV) in Miagao, Iloilo, and Cagayan State University (CSU) in Aparri, Cagayan.
The privileges that cover the scholarship are school fees required by the curriculum, monthly stipend amounting to P5,000, P3,000 on-the-job training allowance, thesis support amounting to P7,000, and P1,500 graduation support.
In a “Kapihan sa Ilocos” episode, BFAR Regional Director Rosario Segundina Gaerlan said this scholarship further helps the mandate of BFAR for the next years.
“Ang FSP ay naglalayong magbigay ng tulong sa mga karapat-dapat na indibidwal na handang mag-aral at makapagtapos sa kursong BS Fisheries, at mag-produce ng mga fisheries professionals na maglilingkod sa pamahalaan at iba pang institusyon na may kinalaman sa pangisdaan, at maging bahagi sa pag-unlad ng sektor ng pangisdaan sa bansa,” Gaerlan said.
(The FSP aims to provide assistance to deserving individuals who are committed to pursuing and completing a Bachelor of Science in Fisheries (BSF) degree and will cultivate a new generation of fisheries professionals who can serve the government and other fisheries-related institutions, ultimately contributing to the advancement of the country’s fisheries sector.)
“Ito ay isa ring paraan upang tuloy-tuloy ang promotion ng sustainable management at development sa sektor ng pangisdaan,” she added.
(This scholarship program serves as a crucial tool in ensuring the continued promotion of sustainable practices within the fisheries sector.) (MJTAB/REB/PIA Region 1)
