Scholarships to be awarded children of DENR workers killed in line of duty

MANILA, Philippines—Like the children of soldiers who died for their country, the offspring of workers who died for the environment will be awarded scholarships to honor their parents’ struggles, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said on Friday.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced it is offering a generous scholarship package to children of “fallen heroes of the environment” or workers of the agency killed in the line of duty.

But only one child per worker is eligible for the program.

Paje recently signed a memorandum circular outlining the general guidelines for the scholarship program, which will help children of slain environment workers get a college degree related to environment work.

“This is our way of recognizing the service and contribution of our fellow workers who died while protecting the environment,” Paje said in a statement.

“We came up with this scholarship program because apart from believing in the value of education, we know that it’s every parent’s dream to see his child secure a college diploma so we want to fulfil that dream in behalf of our environmental heroes who have gone ahead of us,” he added.

Based on DENR records, more than 60 of its workers have died while performing their duties since the agency was established in 1987, including Melania Dirain, a forester who was shot and killed in her office in Sanchez Mira town in Cagayan on February 7, 2012.

On New Year’s Day, Alfredo Almueda, a community environment and natural resources officer in Quirino province was gunned down at a checkpoint while trying to intercept a shipment of illegal logs.

Since 2010, the year the Aquino government assumed office, more than 20 DENR employees, contractual workers and civil society partners have been killed,  DENR records show.

At present, only one child for each slain worker may apply for the scholarship program, which is also aimed at helping scholars cope with the demands of a college education.

Under the guidelines, the scholarship award covers the recipient’s full tuition in any state university within the country, a monthly living allowance of P5,000, book and Internet allowances and other school supplies worth P3,500 per semester, among others.

Scholars may opt to enroll in a private academic institution of their choice provided that they will shoulder amounts in excess of  the prevailing fees at the University of the Philippines.

Paje said recipients of the scholarship grant are required to take only courses “relevant to the DENR’s strategic thrusts, plans and priority programs.”

These include environmental science, forestry, geodetic engineering, geology, mining engineering, chemical engineering, ocean and marine science, and taxonomy.

Other perks include a thesis allowance amounting to P10,000; reimbursable amount of up to P10,000 for graduation expenses, including fees for the diploma, yearbook, toga rental, and graduation photos; and two round-trip tickets per year to allow the scholars to return to their hometown during breaks between semesters.

Under the terms, a scholar is required to maintain a weighted average of 2.75 or its equivalent to remain in the program.

Scholars will enter into an agreement with the DENR that places them under a service-obligation contract, which calls for a year of government service in the department for every school year of enrolment,  after graduation.

The scholars may also opt to work at any national and government institution, including state universities and colleges.