Children of slain environment workers to get scholarship

MANILA, Philippines - Children of workers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) who have died in the line of duty are being offered a generous scholarship package.

 Environment Secretary Ramon Paje has signed Memorandum Circular No. 2013-02 outlining the general guidelines for the scholarship program to help send children of slain environment workers to college.

“This is our way of recognizing the service and contribution of our fellow workers who died while protecting the environment,” he said.

“We came up with this scholarship program because apart from believing in the value of education, we know that it’s every parent’s dream to see his child secure a college diploma, so we want to fulfill that dream in behalf of our environmental heroes who have gone ahead of us.”

Data showed more than 60 DENR workers have died while performing their duties since the agency was established in 1987, including “Bayani ng Kalikasan” awardee Melania Dirain, a 46-year-old forestry specialist who was shot and killed in her office in Sanchez Mira town in Cagayan on Feb. 7, 2012.

Paje said one of the two children of Dirain may avail of the scholarship program.

The DENR scholarship package will help scholars cope with the demands of a college education, he added.

The scholarship award covers the recipient’s full tuition in any state university in the country, monthly living allowance of P5,000, book and Internet allowances and other school supplies worth P3,500 per semester, among others.

A scholar may opt to enroll in a private academic institution of his/her choice provided that he/she will shoulder the excess in the total cost of the tuition and other school fees for every semester, where the actual fees are based on the prevailing rate at the University of the Philippines.

Paje said recipients of the scholarship grant are required to take up courses “relevant to the DENR’s strategic thrusts, plans and priority programs” such as environmental science, forestry, geodetic engineering, geology, mining engineering, chemical engineering, ocean and marine science, and taxonomy.

Other perks that scholars may enjoy include thesis allowance amounting to P10,000; reimbursable amount of up to P10,000 for graduation expenses, including diploma fee, yearbook, toga rental, graduation picture and other relevant expenses; and two round-trip tickets per year to allow the scholars to return to their hometown during semestral breaks.

A scholar is required to maintain a weighted average of 2.75 or its equivalent to remain in the program.

Scholars will enter into an agreement with the DENR that places them under a service-obligation contract, which calls for a year of government service in the department for every school year of enrollment.

The scholar-recipient may also work at any national and government institution, including state universities and colleges.