By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. yesterday pointed out the importance of education as a way out of poverty during an event for various indigenous communities at the Provincial Capitol.

The event was attended by more than 200 Ati and Ata folks from Calatrava, Don Salvador Benedicto, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Isabela, Himamaylan City, and Toboso.

Marañon released a total P549,000 in financial assistance for 86 secondary and elementary school students.

In his speech, Marañon said there are so many opportunities in the province today for carpenters, electricians, and skilled workers because of the “construction boom,” along with employment openings also in the information technology–business process outsourcing sector, where members of the indigenous community have been hired.

“You have to be diligent in your studies,” Marañon said.

He also highlighted cases of indigenous students taking advantage of opportunities, including Darlyn Rebatado Blancia, who is leaving for Japan next month on a year-long P1 million grant to study advanced Japanese language courses at a prestigious educational institution; along with Femia Cervantes-Sotes, who is employed at the Capitol-owned Negros First Ranch in Murcia./DGB, WDJ