ALKHOBAR, 31 October — An association of OFWs from Nueva Ecija province has put up a scholarship program for deserving children of its members.
The Samahang Novo Ecijanos sa Silangang Bahagi ng Saudi Arabia (SNE) will launch the project tomorrow during its general membership meeting at the Philippine School in Dammam (PSD).
SNE president Edilberto Garcia said certificates of scholarship will be awarded to members whose children who are in the Philippines qualify from the criteria drawn up by the group.
Its scholarship committee, composed officials and board directors, will be examine and approve nominations.
Garcia said the SNE is also committed to send financial assistance for the construction of 80 units of deep wells in Nueva Ecija, one of the Philippines’ top provinces.
This will be a complimentary effort of the SNE to support their provincial government’s Potable Water Supply Program, said Garcia.
SNE is one of the youngest community organizations in the Eastern Province. It became an Accredited Community Partner, or ACP, of the Philippine labor office POLO-OWWA in the region.
Despite its being relatively new, it had been active in assisting the Philippine Embassy’s outreach programs particularly to distressed Filipino workers.
It also has its own educational projects, such as seminars on various interests. Tomorrow, for instance, Tony Ranque, a Novo Ecijano himself and a convenor of International Coalition on Filipino Voting Rights (ECOFVR) in the Eastern Region, will discuss some highlights on the provisions of the absentee voting bills that have been passed by both houses of Congress in Manila.
Max Bringula, the area lead promoter of OFW Net and OFW Holdings in the region, will give a presentation about the economic empowerment potential of OFWs.
Alex Mendoza of Amway Philippines will present agricultural products being used at the moment with great benefits by the Novo Ecijano farmers.
True to its great beginnings as one of the provinces that rebelled against Spain and formed the First Philippine Republic in 1888, Nueva Ecija had been consistently a leading province of the country.
It even has its own Science City, formerly the municipality of Muñoz, which is now a rival of Los Baños in Laguna province.
Aside from Garcia, the current SNE officers are Rey Barraca, internal vice president; Raul Gonzales, external vice president; Resty Villegas, secretary-general; Marina Mendiola, assistant secretary-general; Edgardo Felix, treasurer; Hipolito Naldoza, auditor; Edgar Verginiza, assistant auditor; Alfredo Francisco, Placido Matias, Ponciano Bernabe, and Dominador Baltazar, public relation officers; Romy Novelles and Reynaldo Diaz, advisers.
