Zamboanga City (Jan. 5) -– Five of the 36 new fellows who made it to the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) are from Western Mindanao and will soon be instrumental in the development of region IX.

The Ford Foundation has recently proclaimed Nora Agustero of St. Columban College in Pagadian City, Anwary Akalun of the DSWD-Basilan, Jo-Rex Camba of NEDA, Regional Office, this city, Jose Policarpio from the Provincial Government of Zamboanga Sibuguey and Ana Liza Lopez of the Western Mindanao State University, Tampilisan, Zamboanga del Sur, as part of the 36 winners in the second round of competition for the International Fellowship Program. They will receive support for up to three years of graduate study in an appropriate university program anywhere in the world.

The IFP especially seeks candidates from marginalized groups and communities that have little access to advance education. The program will further help the recipients enhance their competitiveness not just locally but globally, preparing them to be a good leader in their own community and excel in whatever fields they are in. This will also prepare the recipients to be of great contribution to the whole country by applying what they will learn in the program.

With this study grant, these people will now be armed with great knowledge that will greatly benefit not just themselves but also the region and consequently, the whole country in general.