SIFI Educational Aid Program (EDAP) coordinators from 14 mills and planters’ associations attend the orientation in preparation for the next semester of school year 2025-2026.
With long-time and newly appointed EDAP coordinators in the roster, the Sugar Industry Foundation, Inc. (SIFI) Project Officer for Education, Angelica Hebionada, initiated the meeting to refresh and orient the coordinators of the program’s objectives and guidelines.
Among the participants are the Negros Island-based mills and planters’ associations, namely:
- Sagay Central, Inc,
- Lopez Sugar Corporation
- Victorias Milling Company, Inc.
- First Farmers Holding Corporation
- BISCOM, Inc.
- Central Lopez Planters’ Association
- AHSSI/SIMAG Foundation
- Associated Planters of Silay-Saravia, Inc.
- First Farmers Association
- Negros COFA
- The Sugar Association, Inc.
- C-Prime Corporation
- Asociacion de Agricultores de La Carlota y Pontevedra, Inc.
- Planters’ Association of Southern Negros, Inc.
The SIFI project officers presented the Foundation’s pillars and special projects’ activities to the coordinators. Aside from that, they were also presented with the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) or the Republic Act 6982, which is the primary source of funds for SIFI.
Following the brief presentation on SIFI’s history and activities, the Educational Aid Program was reintroduced to the coordinators. The processes on the scholars’ requirements, scholarship retention, sanctions, penalties, DOLE-preferred priority courses, and liquidation deadlines, were discussed thoroughly to promote cohesive and harmonized provision of the grants.
The EDAP coordinators expressed their concerns during the open forum. SIFI President & COO Edith Y. Villanueva was present in the meeting to address the challenges stated by the representatives. To recall the day’s topics and to test the coordinators’ memory, a pop quiz was hosted by Skills Training and Health Project Officer Milen Joy Abad. Prizes, tokens, and SIFI promotional materials were given by Mrs. Villanueva to the participants.
A highlight from the event was the attendance of a SIFI Scholar graduate from Dueñas Farmers’ Association, Inc. in Iloilo, and a child of a solo parent sugar farm laborer – Myra Reyes, who is now an executive assistant associate at The Sugar Association, Inc. She shared her sentiments and gratitude to the SIFI EDAP for leading her to life opportunities post-graduation.
The scholars’ success, like Myra’s, is a testament and product of SIFI’s thrust in helping the dependents of the sugar farmworkers and laborers.
