BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) - - At least 75 Indigenous Peoples (IP) youths in this province and in Quirino will be given opportunities to take up various courses through the IP Scholarship program forged by OceanaGold Philippines, Inc. (OGPI), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Department of the Environment and Natural Resources – Mines and GeoSciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) and provincial governments of Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

Lawyer Joan Adaci-Cattiling, OGPI president and general manager for External Affairs and Performance, said the IP Scholarship Programs under the Community Development Fund (CDF) and Development of Mining Technology and GeoSciences (DMTG) will boost educational opportunities for IP youths in both provinces.

“These scholarship programs will uplift the lives of our youths in IP communities by pursuing various college courses and be employed after finishing their chosen courses,”  she said.

Cattiling thanked their government partners in supporting their push for the IP Scholarship Programs for Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino youths.

The scholarship program for the targetted 75 college students  through the CDF will start their schooling for the 1st semester of 2023 to 2024.

The DMTG Scholarship targets 40 college youths where 24 have been chosen  to pursue Mining and Metallurgical  Engineering, Geology and second priority courses such as Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Forestry and Agricultural courses.

Didipio Mine through its various scholarship programs have produced 5 board passers – one in Civil engineering and 4 in Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).

Since 2007,  Didipio Mine has produced 260 scholar – graduates with 224 active scholars as of June this year.  (OTB/BME/PIA NVizcaya)