MANILA, Philippines - The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) has launched a scholarship program for communities hosting its transmission facilities, particularly in Cagayan de Oro City.
As part of its corporate social responsibility, NGCP has helped fund students of Bukidnon State University’s extension class in Cagayan de Oro City through a scholarship program.
The program provides select Lumads of Bukidnon educational assistance, which covers tuition, clothing and book allowance, and monthly stipend.
Nelson Cabangon, NGCP’s head of corporate affairs, said the program’s objective is to support indigenous people living in communities that host NGCP’s transmission facilities.
“The grant is part of our commitment to promote and preserve their culture, as well as to give deserving but financially incapable students a chance to complete their education,” he said.
NGCP launched the program in 2010 and has so far granted students from different communities scholarship assistance. These include students from the Mt. Palopao Upper Mangima Tribal Communities Inc., a community whose ancestral domain will be traversed by the Mindanao backbone transmission project (Abaga – Kirahon – Maramag – Bunawan project).
Under the program, the scholars must maintain a passing grade in all subjects.
“NGCP is proud to say that, given the satisfactory marks of our scholars, we are more than happy to continue providing grants to deserving students,” said Cabangon.
NGCP is a privately owned corporation in charge of operating, maintaining, and developing the country’s power grid. The consortium, which holds the 25-year concession contract to operate the country’s power transmission network, is comprised of Monte Oro Grid Resources Corp. led by Henry Sy Jr., Calaca High Power Corp. led by Filipino-Chinese businessman Robert Coyiuto Jr., and the State Grid Corp. of China (SGCC) as technical partner.
NGCP’s concession contract is for the operation and maintenance of the power transmission facilities. The Philippine government still wholly owns these assets.