ITOGON, BENGUET – Mt. Camisong Forest Park and Events formalized its commitment to six college scholars from the Indigenous communities of Itogon through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing held on August 31, 2026, marking the beginning of a four-year journey toward education, opportunity, and shared growth.
The six scholars come from two partner organizations within the community; three from the Duacan Indigenous Peoples Organization (DIPO) and three from the Itogon Indigenous Peoples Organization (IIPO). Each of them is currently enrolled at one of the three institutions in the Cordillera region – the University of the Cordilleras, King’s College of the Philippines, and Cordillera Career Development College.
The MOA signing is part of Mt. Camisong’s broader agreement with the local communities of Itogon and forms a cornerstone of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. For Mt. Camisong, the partnership reflects a belief that a forest park rooted in a community should play an active role in its growth – not only by protecting the land, but by investing in its people.
Mt. Camisong scholars, parents, and community leaders of Barangay Loacan at the scholarship MOA signing.
The signing brought together the people who will walk alongside these scholars in the years to come. Present were the six scholars and their proud parents, joined by Mt. Camisong President Oliver Samala, Vice President for Sustainability Victoria “Beki” Tenefrancia, and Community Relations Officer Andres Cuyan.
Representing the Indigenous Peoples Organizations were IIPO Chairman Ms. Rosita Bargaso, represented by Sir Dane Ducayag, and DIPO Chairman Mr. Ben Calpo. The occasion was witnessed by the Council of Elders (COEL) of Barangay Loacan, together with Barangay officials and members of the community.
Members of the Barangay Loacan community witness the signing of the Mt. Camisong Scholarship Program Memorandum of Agreement
Over the next four years, Mt. Camisong will support all six scholars throughout their college education. It is a commitment measured not in a single gesture, but in the steady presence that a young person needs to see their studies through – from enrollment to graduation, and into the futures they are working toward.
For the scholars and their families, the agreement is more than a document. It is a shared promise that their aspirations are seen, supported, and worth investing in and is an affirmation that partnership can mean genuine, lasting opportunity for the next generation.
As stewards of the forest and neighbors to these communities, Mt. Camisong sees the education of these scholars as one of the most meaningful investments it can make. We are honored to support their growth in the same way we care for the park itself.
