CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) -- Scholars of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the region passed the recently held agriculturists licensure examination.

The successful examinees include: Jerelyn S. Abe, Lovely Z. Bibal, Maria Sahara M. Bidon, and Jerick O. De Jesus, all graduates of the Mindoro State University.

They were among the 3,423 out of 10,014 examinees who passed the exam conducted in December.

The graduates were beneficiaries of the DOST Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS).

DOST JLSS Program

The DOST has been helping students in the Philippines pursue degrees in Science and Technology (S&T) through its S&T scholarships.

In 2021, Abe, Bibal, Bidon, and De Jesus received the DOST JLSS, a scholarship program for third-year college students enrolled in priority S&T undergraduate degrees. They were among the 1,701 qualifiers who enjoyed two to three years of benefits that include tuition subsidy, monthly stipend, and book allowance, among others.

The JLSS is categorized into three programs which are the Republic Act No. 2067 or the Merit Scholarship, R. A. 7687 or the “S&T Scholarship Act of 1994”, and the R. A. 10612 or the “Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013”.

The first two scholarships aim to aid in increasing the number of scientists and engineers who will help in the knowledge creation and economic progress of the country while the latter supports scholar-graduates who will teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in secondary education, a move that seeks to aid the K to 12 law. Bibal was a recipient of the JLSS - R. A. 7687 program while Abe, Bidon, and De Jesus were beneficiaries of the JLSS - R.A. 10612 program.

“I’m very thankful and blessed for being a DOST scholar because it served as one of my motivations to pass the licensure examination for agriculturists and I believe that passing this exam will enable me to share my knowledge to farmers and help resolve some of their concerns,” Bibal said. Bibal is set to work in the country equivalent to the years she enjoyed her scholarship as a return-service.

Additionally, Abe shared that the scholarship helped ease their financial burden. She is grateful for DOST and the JLSS scholarship because it solved a major concern in her education.  

“I was able to finance myself without burdening my parents. [Doon] palang, sobrang pasasalamat na,” she said.

S&T scholarships continue to promote scientific innovation and to aid in uplifting communities, particularly the agricultural sector, by supporting student’s education. Through the scholarship, their passion in serving the marginalized sectors and advocating for sustainable agriculture has developed and was well-supported.

“I aspire to promote sustainable, organic, and integrated farming. With this, we will be able to live in a healthier environment and improve the overall well-being of the farming communities,” Abe said in support of this advocacy.

Meanwhile, De Jesus shared that his vision for agriculture in the country is to be sustainable, where there is readily available food to everyone and effective management of natural resources.

Abe, Bidon, and De Jesus are expected to teach STEM as their return-service under R. A. 10612, which creates a pathway for them to advocate for sustainable agriculture to the younger generation.

Advice to Aspiring Scholars and Agriculturists

The scholars also shared some advice on qualifying for the DOST scholarships and passing the licensure examination. As graduates hoped to become professionals in their fields, self-doubt and worry can interfere with their goal, but noteworthy tips might come in handy.

For De Jesus, identifying his study habits has been crucial in his preparation for the exams. “Study when you feel prepared to study. It can help in the long-term retention of the subjects you’ve studied and consistency, but keep in mind that effective study habits differ from person to person, so it’s crucial to discover what suits you best,” De Jesus said. 

This advice is also shared by the DOST scholars who encourage aspiring scholars to work on their STEM subjects, make time for review, and keep trying until they succeed.

With educational programs such as JLSS, DOST continues to strengthen the country’s human resources. This support also empowers different sectors of society by supporting aspiring students to join and contribute to scientific innovation and national development. (GATS/PIA MIMAROPA)