BONTOC, Mountain Province – The allowance of the grantees of the Mountain Province Student Financial Assistance Program (MPSFAP) will increase next year.
This was assured by Mountain Province Governor Leonard G. Mayaen during the assembly of the beneficiaries of the program at the multi-purpose building on May 19, 2015.
Mayaen said that the P3, 000 allowance of every grantee per semester will increase to P4, 000.The additional P1, 000.00 in the allowance of the beneficiaries is because of the increasing cost of education and the school materials needed by the students. However, the governor explained that the increase shall take effect next year since the budget for the year 2015 was already approved. He remarked that this is the result of the harmonious relationship of the executive and legislative body, working together and giving primacy to education.
With this, Mayaen encouraged the grantees to do their best in school to continuously avail of the program until they graduate. He told the grantees the importance of education in achieving one’s endeavour in life and uplifting family out of poverty. Coming from a family of small- scale farmers, the governor said that it is through education that he achieved his status in life today.
Mayaen also informed the grantees of the development in the province that the constituents are benefitting. He exampled the first-ever-run-off river hydropower plant in Mountain Province –the Sabangan Hydropower Project of Hedcor. It is a design scheme for hydroelectric power generation that is least disruptive to the environment. The scheme work by redirecting river water through weir into conveyance pipes towards a penstock and feeding it downhill to the power station. ”Mini-hydro is very environmentally –friendly. There will be no pollution that will disturb the beauty of the province”, stressed the governor.
He added that with the operation of the plant, host barangays will experience benefits, which will come through the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility focusing on education, health, livelihood and environmental programs. Host communities will also be given shares from the generation sales of the plant aside from rentals or royalties from the use of their lands and communal properties.
Mayaen further said that the province’ resources is what it can develop to bring progress to the community. “Mountain Province pride is our water asset. That is why we allow entry of companies with proven track records in hydropower development to help utilize the province’ rich hydro resources”, voiced Governor Mayaen.
By Alpine L. Killa
