CALBAYOG CITY- Wanted: students who will take agriculture-related courses.
Those who will take the offer are not only sure of free education but employment.
Mayor Ronaldo Aquino of this city said that he is offering 10 slots while another 10 slots will be offered by the office of Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento for scholarships for students who will take agriculture-related courses.
In the region, agriculture-related courses are being offered by the Visayas State University in Baybay City and at the University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar.
The Calbayog city mayor lamented that only very few students from the city or other parts of the province are taking agriculture-related courses which he find it ironic considering that Samar is known to be depended so much on agriculture.
“The reason why I came up with this program is that we already lack of people who are experts in agriculture, those who have technical know-how in the said field,” Aquino said.
He pointed out as an example the posts of farm technicians for the city government remains vacant up to now because of lack of takers who are qualified for the vacant posts.
Mayor Aquino said that those who will avail of the scholarship program will have no worry except to concentrate on their studies.
As a sweetener, they will be right away absorbed by the city government under its work force, the city mayor added.
“They will work with the LGU for five years after they graduate. If there is an item available related to their course they will be the priority.If there is none, they will work as a contractual employee,” Aquino said.
Rep. Sarmiento supports the proposal of Aquino.
He said that Samar as an agricultural province need to have enough experts in the said sector.
“We want these students will have really a passion on farming; that he believes that there is a good fortune in farming,” Sarmiento said.
Mayor Aquino, meantime, also asked Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan to also offer the same scholarship program.
“I also ask our good Governor Sharee Ann Tan to do the same for the province to have scholars enrolled in an agriculture course because we lack of students who are inclined in agriculture,” he said. (JENNIFER SUMAGANG-ALLEGADO)