NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Jan. 22 (PIA) -- Over 50 scholars of Negros Occidental Provincial Government's Progressive Agricultural Knowledge Advancement and Opportunities in Negros, Incorporated (PAgKAON, Inc.) scholarship convened for the 8th Year-End Get Together and General Assembly.

Former Gov. Rafael Coscolluela, who served as the guest speaker, expressed his gratefulness as there are still young people who are eager to pursue agriculture fields of learning and eventually craft interventions to make the farmers' life easier.

Coscolluela also noted that "the country is blessed with good soil, efficient water and favorable weather, but there are only few people who are interested in cultivating the land."

Conceptualized in 1998 under the leadership of then governor Coscolluela, the PAgKAON scholarship aimed at giving the children of farmers and fisherfolks the opportunity of getting quality education and become "change agents" in the area of agriculture.

The scholarship program, however, was institutionalized in 2015 under the administration of Gov. Alfredo G. Maranon, Jr. when he established the Negros Occidental Scholarship Program Division.

According to the Capitol release, Gov. Maranon offered more slots to cater deserving children of farmers and fisherfolks.

In addition, more scholarship categories were opened to accommodate the children of low income families, even sending students abroad to countries like Japan, Taiwan and Australia.

This year's assembly was bannered with the theme, "Continuing the Legacy through Unity and Cooperation". (LTP/LML-PIA6 Negros Occidental)