Celebrating Excellence: DAR Scholarship Program Honors “Pagkilala sa mga Iskolar ng Repormang Agraryo”

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) recently hosted a "Pagkilala sa mga Iskolar ng Repormang Agraryo" held in Dakak, Dapitan City last August 8. The event was attended by selected Department of Agrarian Reform Scholarship Program (DARSP) scholars from Bukidnon, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay along with their parents. The event was graced by the presence of Assistant Secretary Vinci Araullo Beltran of the Human Resource Office, Director Agnes B. Mendoza of the Agrarian Reform Capacity Development Service (ARCDS), and Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Daisy Dell Digamon of DAR Central Office. Also in attendance were the scholarship program coordinators nationwide.

Director Mendoza gave the overview of the DAR Scholarship Program for the dependents of the agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). She said that the program aims to provide educational opportunities to deserving students who will take up a four-year agricultural-related course. It covers tuition fees, allowances, and other educational expenses to empower scholars to pursue their academic goals. Currently, the scholarship program has fifty (50) scholars enrolled for the school year 2024-2025 from different provinces nationwide.

 

The purpose of the activity was to acknowledge both the graduates and the undergraduates for their hard work and dedication in their pursuit of education and celebrate their achievements. It has produced a total of thirty-two (32) graduates. Two of them, Jamaika Aguhob, and Daisy Mallo, were invited to share their testimonies and inspire the current scholars to continue striving for excellence in their studies. They shared their stories of uncertainties and challenges they encountered during their college journeys, including financial and health problems faced by their families, especially during the pandemic.

Despite the challenges, both Jamaika and Daisy graduated with Latin Honors and are currently employed as a contract of service and a member of the Field Validation Team of the SPLIT Project at DAR provincial offices of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay, respectively.

"We are proud of the accomplishments of our DARSP scholars and we are committed to supporting them in their educational journey," said ASec Beltran. She further added that Secretary Conrado Estrella III plans to widen the scope and coverage of the implementation of the scholarship program and to increase the number of scholars who will have the opportunity to complete agricultural-related courses. “DAR is dedicated to providing opportunities for young individuals to pursue their dreams and improve the quality of life for the countryside," she said.

 

Dr. Maria Rio A. Naguit, President of the Jose Rizal Memorial State University, and Dr. Gemarie E. Baguiller, Associate Dean of Student Affairs of the Tampilisan Campus, were also  invited during the activity. "Let us not compete with each other, but we have to complete," Dr. Naguit stressed in her message.

The event also served as a platform for local government officials of the province to show their commitment to the DARSP program and the development of agrarian reform in the country. Their presence underscored the importance of education in empowering individuals and communities to create a better future for themselves.

The "Pagkilala sa mga Iskolar ng Repormang Agraryo" event was a resounding success, with scholars and parents expressing their gratitude for the support and opportunities provided by the program. It also recognized exceptional individuals and aimed to inspire other students to follow in their footsteps and pursue careers in agriculture and related fields. The DAR looks forward to continuing to empower young individuals through access to education to make a lasting impact on the lives of agrarian reform beneficiaries nationwide and to strengthen the agricultural community in the country.