Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Monday, June 2, that he plans to expand the success of the Negros Occidental scholarship program in Darwin, Australia.
Lacson, who just returned from attending the graduations of Negros Occidental scholars from an Early Childhood Education and Care program at Alana Kaye College and Commercial Cookery Course from the International College of Advanced Education (ICAE) in Darwin, Australia, said he aims to send more scholars under the province’s study now pay later program.
The Negrense scholars were cited as outstanding students and one was even chosen to deliver a graduation speech, he said.
Among the first batch of Negrense scholars one is already an Australian citizen and the rest are permanent residents, Lacson said.
“They said it has been a life changing experience for them and they are ready to help the next batch (of scholars) we can send,” he said.
Lacson said he is very happy with the results and will continue sending study now pay later scholars to Darwin.
He will also encourage the city government officials in Negros Occidental to sponsor one scholar per city and the provincial government will match it by getting another one from the LGU, Lacson said.
The Negrenses are given five years to pay for their scholarships when they land jobs with no interest, he added. The scholarships cost about P1 million each but once they get work in Darwin they can manage to pay, Lacson said.
The scholars who are already working in Darwin are already sending money to their families in Negros, he said.*