Europeans offer scholarship to qualified maritime coeds
City Councilor Jed Mabilog, Iloilo Paraw Regatta
Foundation, Inc, chairman Manny Villa, and
Tourism regional director Edwin Trompeta explains
to the media the scholarship program.
Photo by A. Chris Fernadez
Close to 50 shipping lines from Norway and other parts of Europe have signified their interest to provide scholarships to deserving students who will take up maritime courses at the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University in Iloilo.
This was announced by Manny Villa, the Chairman of the Iloilo Paraw Regatta Foundation, Inc. that tied up with the university for its scholarship program.
The Paraw Regatta Foundation, the organizer of the annual sailboat competition in Iloilo has long planned to put up a scholarship program for the children of fishermen.
Initially they planned to take in 32 scholars but the university decided to open 600 slots for the Paraw Regatta Foundation.
Villa said with the development, they decided to open the program to all interested students even outside of Iloilo as long as they are qualified. The courses are limited to Cruise Ship Management, Maritime Engineering and Nautical Course.
Applicants must undergo a pre-screening that will be conducted by the Paraw Regatta Foundation. If they pass they will take the qualification exam given by the university and comply with other requisites that need to be complied for them to enter the institution.
Villa said the foundation would pay for the initial enrollment while waiting for the sponsoring company.
Villa said Norwegian and other European shipping companies have been investing on Filipinos, especially on Ilonggo seafarers, because most of their crews are Ilonggos and products of the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University. The university is the only maritime university in the whole of Asia.
"They concentrate in Western Visayas because most of their good materials are from this university," he said.
Qualified applicants can avail of either partial or full scholarships to include free board and lodging and a monthly allowance of not less than 50 US dollars.
After graduation, the scholars are already assured of jobs as they will also be hired by their respective benefactors.
The companies that have existing scholarship programs at the university are NSA, Filstar, Stolt Nielsen, Vega Manila, PCM, Bouvet Shipping, Cosmo Sealand, Jo Tankers and Odjfell.
More than 36 companies are still waiting to offer scholarships, according to Villa.
Interested applicants meantime are encouraged to check with the Iloilo City Tourism Office and look for Hazel Brasileño at tel numbers (033) 337 2172 for further details.
(PNA)