Forty of the 310 beneficiaries of the Student Siblings Laptop Sharing Project in Davao City were feted during the first Sprout Award Scholarship awarding ceremony on August 19 at the Consulate General’s Office of the People’s Republic of China in Davao.
The Student Siblings Laptop Sharing Project was sponsored by the City Government of Davao and the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Davao. It was a brainchild project of Mayor Inday Sara Duterte.
Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) Commissioner Norman Baloro, also the Davao City LGU Special Projects head, bared this during the Wow Davao program aired Tuesday over the Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) program.
He said, “They received P8,000 cash incentives from the office of Consul General Li Lim. Ito sila mga beneficiaries na nakatanggap ng laptop last October 16, 2020. Consistent honor students sila. So among the 310, nakapili tayo ng 40 na naging deserving sa award na yun (These were the beneficiaries who received laptops on October 16, 2020. They were consistent honor students. From among the 310, we selected 40 who were deserving of the award).”
Baloro said all the awardees, coming from the urban poor communities, were thankful for the cash reward they each received.
“Parang once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them, buying and purchasing all their school requirements. This is a gift and a blessing that amidst the pandemic naay mga tawo og ahensya nga (there are people and agencies) who are taking part in the lives of these children to continue their studies and quest for excellence,” Baloro said as he thanked Consul General Li Lin for his partnership with the City Government of Davao in extending help to Dabawenyo students.
He also said the City Government of Davao and PCUP “won’t get tired in doing our very best” to serve Dabawenyos, especially during this challenging pandemic.
Commissioner Baloro said, “Magandang program ang Sprout Award. I am so happy na si Consul General Lee Lin ireplicate po ito at dalhin sa Mindanao (The Sprout Award is a good program. I am happy that Consul General Li Lin is replicating this to other parts of Mindanao).”
The Sprout Award is part of the “Stay Strong Together ” initiative by the Chinese Consulate General and Davao City Government.
Consul General Lin, during the ceremony, congratulated the awardees. He likened the scholarship to a “timely rain that nurtured the tiny sprouts of today, and assisted their growth into the mighty trees of tomorrow”.
Mayor Duterte, in her congratulatory video message, thanked the Consulate General for establishing the Sprout Award Program, and for his continuous support to the young children that they may remain devoted to their studies despite the challenges during the pandemic.
The mayor also hoped that the students would be more inspired to excel in their studies and fulfill their dreams and aspirations after receiving additional support from the Consulate General. CIO
