Published on: June 19, 2023
By Vee Tolentino-Gumban
BORONGAN CITY (PIA) -- To celebrate the graduation of the pioneer batch of the Isang Propesyonal, Isang Pamilya (IPIP) Program of the Provincial Government of Eastern Samar, some 31 graduates and their proud parents were honored on June 8, through a Celebration and Thanksgiving led by Gov. Ben P. Evardone at the PGO Conference Hall, this city.
In his testimony, Amado Ellorando Jr., now a Political Science graduate from San Mateo, Borongan, expressed his gratitude to Gov. Evardone and the whole provincial government for its many programs and thrusts to support the education of the students in order to alleviate the lives of all Estehanons.
“The IPIP program has been one of the reasons why we are here today,” Ellorando added.
Lilibeth Cada, a vegetable vendor, and a proud parent to one of the scholars emphasized that the IPIP program had been a big help since she’s the only parent supporting her 10 children after her husband suffered from a stroke last year.
In his message, Gov. Evardone shared that the support of the provincial government will not stop after graduation but will extend during the scholars’ licensure examination journey, and processing of job application documents, up until the scholars secure a job.
“Do not just stop here, study further, prioritize looking for a decent job, and most importantly, do not forget to look back to your family, especially your parents,” the governor noted.
A product himself of a poor fisher in an island barangay in Eastern Samar, the governor recalls himself selling pudpod (fish cakes) to nearby towns to help his family during his younger years and working as a waiter and balut vendor in Manila to sustain his education.
A living testament to how education can lift people out of poverty, Gov. Evardone envisioned an educational assistance program that aims to assure that in every Estehanon family, there should be one professional with a permanent job who will help alleviate the economic plight of their family and secure education for their younger sibling, hence the Isang Propesyonal, Isang Pamilya Program is born.
According to Emmanuel Arago, IPIPP program coordinator, there are 400 scholars for the 1st Semester of SY 2022-2023 and 426 scholars for the 2nd Semester, who already received their 3,000 monthly allowance under the said program amounting to a total of P12,540,000.
These scholars were beneficiaries of the IPIP program under the financial donation of GT Foundation of Metrobank sourced by the governor himself.
Also present were Vice Governor Maricar Sison-Goteesan, Provincial Administrator Nelson Cortez, Board Members Christelle Stelle Yadao, Virginia Requillo Zacate, Evet Bandoy Gaylon, Atty. PJ Evardone, Atty. Byron Suyot, Nesty Anthony Cablao, and Jun Quelitano. (MMP/VTG/PIA Eastern Samar)
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