DBP scholarship program and the ‘roro’ highways
(For the week ending April 27, 2008)
Over lunch last Friday, I learned from DBP President Reynaldo David that the DBP has launched a special scholarship program which will ensure an adequate and continuing supply of trained and qualified professionals for domestic and overseas requirements.

For its initial project, DBP will concentrate on the training of nurses, who without any doubt, are much in demand not only locally but also worldwide.

Under the program, nursing scholars will be entitled to a scholarship grant, which covers all expenses, from first year all the way to graduation. What is unique about this program is that funds will be released in advance to the participating schools, relieving the scholars of the burden of having to re-apply every semester.

David said that the DBP Endowment for Education Program or DEEP is part of the bank’s contribution to the sustainable development of the country’s human resource.

After nursing, David announced that DBP will focus on another very marketable skill – seamanship. It is estimated that today 1 out of every 4 seamen on board international vessels is a Filipino.

As of this writing, a total of 545 indigent but deserving applicants have already taken the nursing scholarship entrance exams conducted by DBP’s partner-schools, namely: St. Louis University, Our Lady of Fatima, Cebu Normal University, Mindanao State University, West Visayas State University, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Of this total number, 188 have already passed said entrance exams.

Based on the results of the entrance examinations administered to the 545 applicants, 28% or 152 qualified scholars will be chosen for academic year 2008-2009.

The DBP will be using the regional poverty incidence criteria serves as the basis in the allocation of scholars per partner-school in order to ensure balanced
regional dispersal of the final 152 DEEP scholars.

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In Bulan, Sorsogon, the President is launching today the Central Nautical Highway through a roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) caravan, that signifies the completion of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (SRNH), which is part of her eight-point development agenda. The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is the lead implementor of the SRNH, together with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA).

As a start of the caravan, the President will light the route map of the Central Nautical Highway in Bulan, Sorsogon. This route includes ports in Bulan, Sorsogon; Masbate City; Cauayan, Masbate; Bogo, Cebu; Tubigon, Bohol; Jagna, Bohol; Mambajao, Camiguin; Benomi, Camiguin; and Balingoan, Misamis Oriental.

Most of the members of the Cabinet, including this writer, will join the Jagna-Mambajao leg of the ro-ro on Tuesday. While on board, President Arroyo will conduct a mini-Cabinet/National Economic Development Authority (NEDA where important stakeholders will help conduct an impact assessment on the Nautical Highway project. Also expected to be discussed are a proposed one-stop shop for housing development and an assessment of food-poor areas in the country.

In April 2003, we had quite an experience when we joined the launch of the Western Nautical Highway, which took us from the port of Batangas City to Calapan City and Roxas City in Oriental Mindoro; Caticlan, Aklan; Iloilo City; Bacolod City; Dumaguete City and finally, Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte.

In the five years that the first phase of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway has been operational, the SRNH now provides the most affordable and efficient means of moving people and agricultural products, with transport expenses reduced by as much as 45 percent.

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The President has strengthened the two-year-old Subic-Clark Alliance for Development (SCAD) Council as the single body that will harmonize the strategies of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) and the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) with the signing of Executive Order 504-A, amending Executive Order No. 504 (Series of 2006) which created the Council.

In amending the EO, there was recognition of the need to strengthen and enhance the powers and capabilities of the SCAD Council as the single body with a full-time head to rationalize resources and harmonize strategies. It is envisioned that EO 504-A will facilitate what the President calls “an integrated and coordinated approach to the development of the SCAD corridor as a world-class mega-logistics hub and a global gateway to the Asia Pacific Region.”

Among the matter requiring clarification is the scope of powers and functions of the SCAD Council and the Office of the Chairman in order to effectively deal directly with the concerned agencies under its supervision. The agencies placed under the SCAD Council’s supervision are the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Clark Development Corporation (CDC) and the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC).

At the top of the list of the SCAD Council’s priorities is the formulation of policies and programs to develop Subic, Clark, and the corridor in between them as a globally competitive mega-logistics hub. It shall also formulate common investment promotions activities and harmonize in the SBFZ and CFZ programs, policies, rules and regulations affecting investments, incentives, customs, immigration, leasing, privatization, among others.

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