More than 200 students and S&T professionals displaced during the five-month Marawi siege will now see a brighter future as the Department of Science and Technology- Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) has committed scholarship grants in support of the rehabilitation efforts in Marawi City.
The scholarship grant was recently formalized through the project “DOST-SEI Bangon Marawi Program on Science and Technology Human Resources Development.”
In the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DOST-SEI and Mindanao State University (MSU) System, DOST-SEI will provide scholarship grants to 225 selected undergraduate students in MSU Marawi City campus. The grantees, currently taking up Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses, will receive P10,000 per semester for school tuition fees; P6,000 monthly allowance; and P10,000 book allowance per year.
The MOA was signed on 26 January 2018 at the MSU main campus in Marawi City.
Moreover, DOST-SEI will also facilitate the provision of financial assistance to selected S&T professionals in Marawi City pursuing higher studies in science and engineering in any of the DOST-accredited universities. Twenty slots will be allotted to full-time graduate students who will receive P25,000 monthly allowance; P10,000 book allowance per year; and P200,000.00 research grant assistance, plus the amount of the actual tuition fees of their chosen universities.
Meanwhile, 10 slots will be allotted to full-time PhD scholars who will receive P33,000 monthly allowance; P10,000 book allowance per year; and P475,000 research assistance, plus the amount of the actual tuition fees of their chosen universities.
“With the heightened need to help rebuild Marawi City and the greater Mindanao area, DOST-SEI is here to open up opportunities for our children to continue their tertiary studies in STEM and achieve a future that is far removed from the effects of the war,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña.
The five-month siege in Marawi City brought massive damages to many establishments including educational institutions
Sec. de la Peña added that granting S&T scholarship is one strategy that will surely help restore and rehabilitate Marawi’s human and social infrastructures, especially our much-needed human resources in the science and technology sector.
Meanwhile, Dr. Josette T. Biyo, director of DOST-SEI, shared that many consultative meetings were held in recent months to discuss how DOST-SEI could aid in rehabilitation efforts in Marawi City.
“This program will enable displaced students and S&T professionals to get back up on their feet and be instrumental in restoring the old beauty of Marawi City,” said Dr. Biyo.
She also said that accelerating S&T human resources development in Marawi City could provide long-term benefits for every Maranao. In years to come, many of these scholars could be scientists, engineers, and captain of the industries who would be at the forefront of initiating innovation and projects that could bring inclusive development to Marawi City, she told.
MSU President Dr. Habib W. Macaayong, affirming Dr. Biyo, said that producing highly-skilled professionals, particularly in the field of science and technology, could play an integral part to the sustainable development of an area like Marawi City.
“We have always mentioned how research and development in the field of science and technology could provide every Filipino a better living condition, and on the top of that, we need equipped individuals who would help and lead us to achieve our aspirations,” said Macaayong.
Dr. Biyo shared that a grantee should maintain a passing grade in all academic subjects every semester until completion of his/her course while for graduate students, a scholar shall maintain a general weighted average set by the university and DOST-SEI. (Allan Mauro V. Marfal, DOST-STII)
