Taiwanese donor sends another P1.8M for Guinsaugon scholars

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
August 30, 2006

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte  – Another P1.8 M for the scholars who were orphaned because of the tragic Guinsaugon mudslide early this year, was sent in by the Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation.

This was learned from Mr. Henry Yaokasin Sr., the overall coordinator for the Dharma Drum Mountain Social Welfare and Charity Foundation’s Guinsaugon Mudslide Tragedy Orphans Scholarship Program.

The exact amount of One Million Seven Hundred Ninety Eight Thousand Three Hundred Ten and 75/100 Centavos (P1,798,300.75) was credited on August 18, 2006 to the bank account of the Rotary Club of San Juanico Love Foundation, Inc., being the implementing partner of the Taiwanese donors, Engr. Ronnie Ponferrada, the club president reported.

This amount of money will see the orphans through the second semester of this school year. The Dharma Drum Foundation generously accepted to sponsor the Guinsaugon orphans not only by giving them money for tuition fees, books and miscellaneous expenses in school but also for their board and lodging, clothing allowance and subsistence allowance.

Mr. Cheng Chao-Sung, the chairman for resource integration committee of the Foundation, personally came to the Philippines to interview the orphans and on another occasion, he came back to personally give the orphans the initial funds so that they will be able to enroll this school year.

The first trance of release was in May in the amount of P1.4 million, which was released to the orphans by the Rotary Club of San Juanico Love Foundation in the presence of Mr. Cheng, Mr. Henry Yaokasin, Mayor Virgilio Mortera of San Juan, Mayor Maria Lim of St. Bernard and Dir. Olive P. Tiu of PIA.

The additional amount will make the total donations of Dharma Drum so far, to about P3.2 million.

The 31 scholars will continue to enjoy the scholarship until they finish their college education. The scholars who are either in the High School level or in the college level, expressed their gratitude to the officers and members of the Dharma Drum Foundation and pledged that they will do their best so that the generosity of people to them will not be in vain.