ARDCI - Agricultural and Rural Development for Catanduanes, Inc.

“We are offering financial and non-financial services through loans in every barangay to our clients to help arrest poverty in Catanduanes and make a sustainable living. Of all those products offered, education is the best thing we saw with sustainable impact”.

This was enthused by the ARDCI Administrative and Personnel Services Unit Head (APSU) Jannete S. Marquez who is also the chairperson of the ARDCI Scholarship Program to start this school year during the interview.
ARDCI has created a scholarship program pursuant to Board Resolution No.07, s. 2008 which aims to benefit the children of ARDCI members.

Only Catanduanes State Colleges is the accredited college for this scholarship. Qualified applicants must be the child of a consistent Quality Members (QM), an incoming first year college student with at least 85% general weighted average, passed the written examination and interview of selection committee, wit good moral character and physical fitness, and not a recipient of any other scholarship grant.

“Only four students could avail our scholarship under set prerequisites as approved by the board. Each ARDCI branch office in Catanduanes shall only have one qualified student who will enjoy full tuition fee (including laboratory and miscellaneous fee), book allowance of P500.00 per semester, and stipend of P1, 500.00 per month. We will only have four scholars, each from the branch”, she explained.

She further emphasized that as scholar, they also must maintain grades in all major subjects not lower than 2.5.
“All of these amenities are with their corresponding personal and academic responsibilities. Impropriety in the part of scholars and the failure of the parents to maintain the set membership status could waive the benefits the students are having”, she said.
   

Despite the lack of sympathy from some of its lending institutions commenting there is deviation on the function of microfinancing, the management is still in full force to implement the program.
Last April 28-29, selection committee composed of Chief Executive Officer , Operations Head, Finance Head, APSU Head, Area Manager (Catanduanes), and 2 Board of Trustees from Personnel Committee had already conducted the interview at the Head Office in Sta. Elena, Virac.

 “Definitely no return of investment but proven on its sustainability”, she ended.