BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) - -  OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI) is offering scholarship program for the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino provinces.

Lawyer Joan Cattiling, OceanaGold (Philippines) Inc., president and general manager for external affairs & social performance, said a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be signed between the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and OGPI to open up the scholarship program for IP youths who are willing to finish their college studies.

“This is one of our programs where we can help our IPs/ICCs in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino. This will be implemented through our partnership with the NCIP,” she said.

Cattiling bared  the scholarship program during the recent conduct of IP Congress by the NCIP at the Nueva Vizcaya Convention Center here.

She said their new Community Development Fund (CDF) of more than P52.8 million for 2021 and 2022 will also be opened-up for various project proposals from the IPs/ICCs in both provinces.

“These project proposals will be scrutinized by our Technical Working Group (TWG) members from the private and public sector for further approval,” Cattiling said.

She said the CDF can also be availed by barangays and communites within the 50-kilometer radius of their area of operations  aside from the existing 11 barangays within their project coverage.

Cattiling said they can also provide logistical assistance for IP/ICC affairs and events such as the organizational meetings for Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representatives (IPMRs) selection in the barangay and municipal levels.

“We do not intervene in their proceedings, discussions and other matters. We only provide logistical support for the realization of their activities,” she said. (MDCT/BME/PIA Nueva Vizcaya)