“Salamat sa DOLE-CAR sa aking WODP scholarship, malaking tulong ito para maka-tapos ako sa pag-aaral,” said Loren Alyssa Kiblasan while presenting her college diploma to Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera Director Nathaniel V. Lacambra, early this year.
The 23-year-old Kiblasan is a Workers Organization Development Program (WODP) scholarship grantee, who recently graduated with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Financial Management with a specialization in business analytics.
The WODP is a facilitating mechanism for strengthening trade unions and other workers’ organizations. It provides an opportunity for systemic learning and growth aiming at greater productivity, prosperity, and welfare to the employer, the workers’ organization and its members, and their dependents.
WODP focuses on developing the capabilities of the workers and their organization to be able to perform their roles effectively and efficiently toward the promotion of trade unionism, workers’ empowerment, and sound labor-management relations.
It also provides educational opportunities to officers and members including their dependents for self-development, growth, and change agents in their organization and in their personal life.
As the WODP’s educational aspect, educational grants provide financial aid for attaining or completing masters degrees, bachelor’s degrees, technical and short-term courses, or review courses for professional examinations.
There are two types of scholarship grants: regular educational grants for officers/members of the workers’ organization and the Isabelo delos Reyes (IDR) scholarship.
The regular educational grant includes masters degree, bachelor’s degree, technical and short-term courses, and review courses for professional examinations.
IDR scholarship is for legitimate dependent/children of bona fide officers and members of chapters of labor federations, independent unions, workers’ associations, and workers cooperatives for the completion of bachelor’s degrees or technical courses.
Kiblasan said the WODP scholarship helped her financially and bolstered her with the realities of work-life.
“Dahil covered na ang tuition ko, mas may budget na allowance para sa akin. Kasama sa WODP agreement na may number of hours ng service obligation, at nung na-assign ako sa DOLE-CAR, marami akong natutunan sa mga professional doon.”
Kiblasan said her exposure to government work infused lessons on diligence, integrity, and efficiency. She said these qualities apply to her academic endeavors and responsibilities at home.
As for the challenges she faced, Kiblasan said being a scholar meant that she had to maintain good grades and pass all her subjects. One of her unforgettable experiences was when she transitioned to an online approach in studying, but which required numerous on-the-job trainings.
She said her family was her inspiration to finish her studies. “Nagkaroon na ako ng opportunity, kaya ginalingan ko para makatulong ako sa family ko at para sa sarili ko.”
When asked what she wants to do since she has graduated, she said she wants to find a decent job to support herself and her family. She encourages fellow students to be innovative, industrious, and grab opportunities that come their way.
SUCCESSFUL DOLE SCHOLAR — Loren Alyssa Kiblasan, a scholar of the Workers Organization Development scholarship grant of the Department of Labor and Employment-Cordillera, presented her college diploma to DOLE-CAR Director Nathaniel Lacambra. Kiblasan completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration-Financial Management with a Specialization in Business Analytics degree. — DOLE-CAR photo
