Baguio: For the first time, Aboitiz Renewables Inc. and the Aboitiz Foundation are expanding their long-standing scholarship program beyond the traditional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, offering support to University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio students pursuing degrees in Communication or Computer Science. In a statement on Friday, UP Baguio Chancellor Dr. Joel Addawe welcomed the move, saying, 'The company's scholarship slots for UP Baguio will fuel the vision of shaping a new generation of technology-driven creative professionals.'

According to Philippines News Agency, twelve scholarships will be awarded starting the first semester of Academic Year 2025-2026, with recipients to be announced after enrollment. The slots are open to incoming second-year students enrolled in either of the two eligible programs. To qualify, students must have passed the UP College Admission Test, be endorsed by the Aboitiz Foundation through UP Baguio's Office of Scholarships and Financial Assistance, and maintain a general weighted average of at least 2.0 with no failing or incomplete grades.

Each scholar will receive a monthly stipend, a gadget allowance, and academic excellence incentives, including additional cash for those graduating with Latin honors. The program also provides board exam subsidies, mentoring, and internship opportunities, offering holistic support beyond financial aid.

'With this scholarship grant, we aim to boost enrollment in our Communication and Computer Science programs,' Addawe said. 'It opens doors for bright and deserving students from the Cordillera and fuels our vision of shaping a new generation of creative professionals who will drive progress and national development.'

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO recognized Baguio City as a Creative City for Arts and Crafts in 2017 and is home to over 22,000 Information Technology (IT) professionals and recorded a 9 percent economic growth in 2023, making it a leading hub for creative and tech industries in the Cordillera region.

'True progress isn't just measured in megawatts or infrastructure. It is measured in people-lives transformed and dreams realized,' said Noreen Vicencio, First Vice President and General Manager for Hydro Operations at Aboitiz Renewables. 'Education is one of the most powerful investments we can make.'

In Benguet, Aboitiz Renewables operates nine run-of-river hydropower plants. The group's support for education and livelihood continues to drive its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, aligned with AboitizPower's goal of 'Transforming Energy for a Better World.'

'For over two decades, the Aboitiz Foundation's scholarship program has been more than just a financial grant-it's a platform for transformation,' added Jowelle Ann Cruz, the Foundation's Impact Lead for Education. 'We invest in who these scholars can become.'

While Aboitiz has long operated scholarship programs in Cebu and Davao, this is the company's first partnership with UP in Baguio.