The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will enlist 33 graduating senior high school students in Eastern Visayas for its Fisheries Scholarship Program (FSP).

FSP regional coordinator Lourdes Chavez said on Saturday the region has 30 available slots for Fisherfolk Children Scholarship Grant (FCEG) and three for Fisheries Industry Leaders Grant (FILG) for the school year 2021-2022.

The FCEG is for poor but deserving students whose parents or guardians are registered fisherfolk, while the FILG is a merit-based scholarship for top-ranked students, who will pursue a degree in Bachelor of Science in Fisheries.

“The objectives of the program are to produce sufficient professional manpower to serve the requirements of the government and fisheries industry and to complement and reinforce BFAR’s overall goals through manpower development,” Chavez said in a phone interview.

On Dec. 5, BFAR held the FSP national competitive examination in different testing centers across the country.

In the region, Chavez said 71 graduating senior high school students in Leyte, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar took the qualifying test – 60 for FCEG and 11 for FILG.

“BFAR regional and provincial heads and staff served as proctors and ensured that essential standard health protocols were strictly observed during the examination,” she said.

Qualified scholars will receive benefits which include free tuition, PHP5,000 monthly stipend, PHP2,000 book allowance per semester, PHP3,000 practicum support, PHP7,000 thesis support, and PHP1,500 graduation support.

Among the schools in the region that offer fisheries program are the University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar; Samar State University – Mercedes campus; Visayas State University – Tolosa Campus; Eastern Samar State University in Borongan City; Southern Leyte State University – Bontoc campus; and the Eastern Visayas State University – Carigara Campus.

At present, the region has 93 active BFAR scholars. (PNA)