Outgoing Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. recently signed a memorandum of agreement regarding the Maritime Bridging Program Scholarship with the Visayan Maritime Academy (VMA) Global College, various manning agencies, and this year’s 11 scholarship recipients during a ceremony at the Provincial Capitol.
The program is extended to students entering the six-month “bridging program” that eventually leads to the student earning their bachelor’s degree in marine engineering. Those eligible are placed on a “Study now, Pay later” scheme.
As part of the agreement, the provincial government will pay for tuition and fees, while the recruitment firms guarantee employment for the scholarship recipients.
Last June, VMA Global College graduated the first batch of Bridging Program scholars.
Much like this year, the Negros Occidental provincial government provided for tuition and fees through a “study now, pay later” scheme, which came to around P180,000 per student.
Graduates then proceeded to shipboard training with the Phoenix Maritime Corporation, Island Overseas Transport Corporation, and Leonis Navigation./WDJ