ZAMBALES VICE GOV FIGHTS POVERTY THRU SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Iba, Zambales. In his desire to lead the fight against poverty in Zambales and despite zero budget in his office for the current year, Zambales Vice Governor Ramon G. Lacbain II implements P600,000.00 worth of scholarship program for poor but deserving students.

Vice governor Lacbain has facilitated the release of P600,000.00 from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan for Ramon Magsaysay Technological University (RMTU) in Zambales.

“As early as December of last year, I already made a request and constant follow-up to Senator Kiko Pangilinan to help me with my educational assistance program to indigent students of various RMTU campuses in Castillejos, San Marcelino, Botolan, Iba, Masinloc and Candelaria.

I believe in education as one of the best tools that will help our young people in fighting poverty”, according to Lacbain who was a former high school teacher and college instructor before becoming vice governor.

There are about 60 students coming from different campuses of RMTU and pursuing different courses in agriculture, education, accountancy, management and many others including bachelor of laws who will benefit from this project that will cover payment of their tuition and miscellaneous fees ranging from P2,000 to P12,000 per semester until they graduate in 2007.

“I thank Senator Kiko Pangilinan for believing in my vision of economic development for Zambales through agriculture, fisheries, livelihood, investment and tourism promotions. Aside from this amount of P600,000 for educational program, I am also expecting another P600,000 from Senator Kiko Pangilinan for our economic development project with the Zambales War Against Poverty (ZWAP) Foundation, Inc. for various poverty alleviation programs including the establishment of cooperative stores in remote sitios and island communities in Zambales to be known as Tindahan at Botika Natin” said Lacbain who just bolted the opposition LDP after elections of 2004 to join the Liberal Party upon the invitation of Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

Prior to the removal of annual budget of vice governor Lacbain amounting to P3 million, he used to provide financial assistance to indigent pupils from elementary schools and students from high schools and colleges including teachers from different towns of Zambales to pursue their education.

“But now that I have zero budget, I really feel bad that I cannot anymore extend financial assistance to indigent pupils, students and teachers who are seeking my assistance. I hope that sooner I will be able to get back my budget in my office since I deserve it anyway as an elected official of Zambales”, laments Lacbain who is now on his second term as vice governor of Zambales.