BAGUIO CITY, Benguet – “Salamat sa DOLE-CAR sa aking WODP Scholarship. Malaking tulong po ito para makatapos ako sa pag-aaral,” gleefully said Loren Alyssa while presenting her College Diploma before Regional Director Nathaniel V. Lacambra, at the Department of Labor and Employment Office–Cordillera Administrative Region office, early this year.
Twenty-three-year-old Loren Alyssa S. Kiblasan is a Workers Organization Development Program (WODP) scholarship grantee, who recently graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration–Financial Management with a Specialization in Business Analytics.
The WODP serves as a facilitating mechanism for strengthening trade unions and other workers’ organizations providing an opportunity for systemic learning and growth aiming at greater productivity, prosperity, and welfare to the employer, workers’ organization and its members, and their dependents.
WODP focuses on developing the capabilities of the workers and their organization to be able to perform their roles effectively and efficiently toward the promotion of trade unionism, workers’ empowerment, and sound labor-management relations.
Also, it provides educational opportunities to officers and members including their dependents for self-development, growth, and be effective change agents in their organization and in their personal life.
As the WODP’s educational aspect, educational grants provide financial aid for attaining or completing bachelor’s or master’s degrees, technical and short-term courses, or review courses for professional examinations.
There are two types of scholarship grants: Regular Educational Grants for officers/members of the workers’ organization which include the following: masters degree, completion of bachelor’s degree, technical and short-term courses (voc-tech), or review courses for professional examinations; and the Isabelo delos Reyes (IDR) Scholarship for legitimate dependent/children of bona fide officers & members of locals/chapters of labor federations, independent unions, workers’ associations, and workers cooperatives for the completion of four or five years of bachelor’s degree and completion of two-year technical course.
During a short interview, Alyssa mentioned how the WODP scholarship helped her financially and bolstered her with the realities of work-life.
“Una sa lahat, dahil covered na po ang tuition ko, mas may budget na allowance para sa akin. Pangalawa po, kasama sa WODP agreement na may number of hours ng service obligation, and nung na-assign po ako sa DOLE-CAR, madami po ako natutunan sa mga professionals doon.”
Alyssa recounts how her exposure to government work infused valuable lessons on diligence, integrity, and efficiency. She recalls how these qualities apply to her academic endeavors and responsibilities at home.
As for the challenges she faced, she expressed how being a scholar meant that she had to maintain good grades and pass all her subjects. She noted an unforgettable experience when her education transitioned to an online approach and required numerous on-the-job trainings every so often.
She attributes her family as an inspiration to finish her studies. “Nagkaroon na ako ng opportunity, kaya ginalingan ko para makatulong din naman ako para sa family ko at para sa sarili ko.”
When asked what she wants to do since she has graduated, she said that she is prepared to do job-hunting and hopes to find a decent job to support herself and her family. She encourages her fellow students to be innovative, industrious, and grab the opportunities that come their way. By Daryll B. Ponard
