The Dinagat Islands provincial government has paid PHP5.1 million for the tuition fees of its 534 scholars.

“The payment is intended for the second semester of School Year 2022-2023 covering the months of February to April,” Jhon Philip Tan, the Office of the Governor executive assistant, said in an interview on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Vice Governor Benglen Ecleo, who serves as the officer in charge governor of the province, handed over the payment to officials of the Don Jose Ecleo Memorial College where the scholars are enrolled.

“The administration of Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. supports the education of deserving students but are experiencing difficulties in sustaining their schooling,” Tan said.

He encouraged the scholars to focus on their studies as the provincial government is fully supporting them.

Support for local coop

Also on Tuesday, the provincial government handed over to the Cagdianao Farmers Fisherfolks Marketing Cooperative (CAFFIMACO) the financial gain from the harvest of their “bangus” (milkfish) production project.

“The provincial government assisted the CAFFIMACO market their harvested bangus to the seven towns in the province,” Tan said.

He said CAFFIMACO members received their PHP113,250 income from the marketing operations conducted by the provincial government.

“The CAFFIMACO harvested some 755 kg. of bangus from their project last May 17 to 18. With the marketing support of the provincial government, the cooperative is assured of good income from their harvest,” he said. (PNA)