NAVAL, Biliran– Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) has launched a new Affirmative Action Scholarship grant to support the children of rebel returnees who wish to pursue higher education.
Effective from the Academic Year 2021-2022, this initiative reflects BiPSU’s commitment to promoting peace and providing educational opportunities in a province recently declared free from insurgency.
Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr., BiPSU president, announced the scholarship program during the ceremonial declaration of Biliran’s Stable Internal Peace and Security Condition (SIPS) on September 11.
This declaration marks a historic milestone for the province, signaling that it is now considered insurgency-free.
Dr. Cañezo emphasized that BiPSU is dedicated to being a “cradle of knowledge, not of rebellion.”
He reaffirmed that the university will not serve as a platform for insurgent recruitment or ideologies that undermine democratic institutions.
“We are committed to ensuring that BiPSU remains a place of learning and peace,” Dr. Cañezo stated, highlighting the university’s role in fostering national loyalty and educating the youth about the dangers of rebellion.
Biliran Governor Gerard Roger Espina, who was instrumental in the province’s progress towards peace, credited the successful collaboration between the military, police, local government, and community members.
“This declaration reflects our vision of a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Biliran,” Espina said.
The declaration ceremony took place at the Fragoch Tourist Inn in Naval, Biliran, and was attended by local government officials, including the governor, vice governor, provincial board members, municipal mayors, and heads of provincial offices.
Government, military, and police officials showed a resolution declaring the island-province of Biliran free from armed rebel influence. This makes Biliran the first province in Eastern Visayas to achieve Stable Internal Peace and Security status. (Contributed Photo)
The ceremony also featured notable guests such as Undersecretary Ernesto C. Torres Jr., executive director of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC); Major General Camilo Z. Ligayo, commander of the Samar-based 8th Infantry Division; and Brigadier General Noel Vestuir of the 802nd Infantry Brigade. Lt. Col. Charlie Saclot, commanding officer of the 93rd Infantry Battalion, highlighted the province’s historical role as a gateway for communist operations and a rest and recreation hub for insurgents.
Despite the launch of the scholarship program, Dr. Cañezo noted that no dependents of rebel returnees have yet taken advantage of the offer.
However, the program has been utilized by six members of the Mamanwa indigenous tribe, who are also eligible for the scholarship.
He said that BiPSU remains committed to extending its support and reaching out to those in need, reinforcing its mission to contribute to the educational and social advancement of Biliran Province. (RLA/PIA-8)
