NCIP not releasing students’ grants

I am a third year college student in Baguio City.  I am a grantee of the Education Assistance Program of the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP).  Because of the program, I receive P10,000.00 every semester.  The amount is a big help event although it is not enough to pay my school fees.  My parents are farmers and I really cannot go to school if not because of a relative who provides my board and lodging and sometimes my transportation.  In exchange, I do housework for this relative including “hatid - sundo” of her small children who go to school.  I suit my class schedule so that I can do hatid-sundo.

I felt very sad because I learned from the registrar of my school that NCIP has not given any money for us grantees.  I learned that a high official of NCIP does not like to sign the list of grantees so that NCIP cannot release the money for the students.

There are more than a thousand of us who are EAP grantees.  I am not the only one who is afraid that I might not be able to continue with my schooling if NCIP will stop giving us financial assistance.

May I appeal to NCIP particularly the high official to sign the list of EAP grantees.  I am writing to the editor because I want those concerned, particularly our government politicians and other officials to please intervene in behalf of us EAP grantees.  The EAP is a nice government program that should not stop.

Tricia Wallang

Baguio City