Provincial scholars pass agri board exam

By Yolly Bimbao
FITS OPA Negros Occidental

Eight Negros Occidental Scholarship Program (NOSP) grantees were among the 972 examinees who passed the 2010 Agriculturist Licensure Examination given by the Professional Regulation Commission on July 20-22, 2010 in Manila, Davao, Cebu, Iloilo, Tacloban, Baguio, and Lucena, said Provincial NOSP Secretariat Head Virginia Parreño.

They are Lloyd Martinez of Brgy. Quezon, San Carlos City; Elizabeth Agonace – Brgy. Busay, Bago City; Ian Mark Ciocon – Brgy. Ma-ao, Bago City; Magdalina Villegas – Brgy. Camba-og, Hinigaran; Alvin dela Fuente – Brgy. Talacagay, Hinobaan; Hazel Cruz – Brgy. Pook, Hinobaan; Patrick Sta. Romana – Brgy. Salong, Kabankalan City (all NOSP-Pagkaon Scholarship grantees); and Vina Gestosani of Brgy. Aguisan, Himamaylan City (NOSP-District Educational Scholarship grantee).

“We, the scholars, are really grateful for the support given by the Provincial Government officials in our pursuit for a better future,” said Alvin dela Fuente, on behalf of the NOSP grantees.

De la Fuente also thanked fellow NOSP Pagkaon grantees who have already passed Agriculturist Licensure Exams in previous years for their free review services given not only for NOSP scholars but also for other interested Agriculture graduates.

Other successful Negrense passers were Junmar Benignos of Sagay City; John Paul Aluyen of Sipalay City; and Ariel Tio of Murcia. They also availed of the free Pagkaon Scholars Review Services, dela Fuente said.

The NOSP-District Educational Scholarship is open to children of low-income families and they are to take any course offered by state colleges and universities within the province.

The NOSP-Pagkaon Scholarship Grant is exclusively given to the children of farmers, fishermen, and sugar workers who will only take up courses in Agriculture, Fishery, Forestry, and other related courses such as Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Business, Marine Biology, Food Technology, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

The NOSP Secretariat is now accepting NOSP applications for school year 2011. Interested parties can inquire at the Provincial Human Resource Management Office at the second floor of the Provincial Administration Center in Aguinaldo Street, Bacolod City or call 433-2545.