Some 40 Lumad Scholars officially started their classes at Datu Jose Libayao Davao del Norte State College Extension Campus last Monday, October 3, 2016 in the Tribal Municipality of Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

The Campus was built to fulfill the long-time desire of the Ata Manobo community to have an accessible tertiary education in their area.

With the extension campus we are hoping to fill that particular gap in Talaingod,” Governor del Rosario said.

This development will surely transform the lives of the students and the community with new technological and knowledge that are unfamiliar to them.

However, the government of Davao del Norte and the school board made sure that the culture of the Ata-Manobo would be preserved.

That is why in the curriculum, we are making sure that programs are in line with the cultural practices of the tribal people,” del Rosario said.

He added that it is important to preserve the culture and traditions of the tribe.

Out of the 40 scholars composing the first batch of students, 30 are 4Ps beneficiaries. The Provincial Government and the Municipality of Talaingod will sponsor scholarship of the remaining 10 students.

Maswerte mo…kamo gyud ang first batch sa mga estudyante sa atong bagong skwelahan diri sa Talaingod (You are lucky… because you are the first batch of   students in this new school in Talaingod),” he stated.

Aside from free education, the scholars will also receive allowances.

Dili lang matrikula ang libre, bisan ang allowance (Not only the tuition will be free but they will also receive an allowance),” he added.

The government earmarked P30,000 for the tuition, allowances and board and lodging of the scholars.

With this, he asked the students not to marry early and really pursue their respective careers after graduation.

Ang abiso nako sa inyoha pwede man magminyo pero unahon ninyo muna inyong career, importante gyod na (My advice to you is that you can marry but I hope that you put your career first, that is important),” the governor said.

To formally open the school, del Rosario led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), together with the representatives of Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the Municipality of Talaingod.

DavNor News