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| ILOCOS Norte Governor Imee R. Marcos distributes stipends to technical-vocational students who are beneficiaries of the Iskolar ni Manang Imee program of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte in Laoag City. (Reu A. Flores) |
By Mizpah Grace G. Castro
PGIN-CMO
ILOCOS Norte Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos through the Provincial Education Department (PED) distributed stipends to 399 "Iskolar ni Manang Imee" beneficiaries enrolled in technical-vocational programs on February 14 at the Centennial Arena in Laoag City.
The "Iskolar ni Manang Imee" program of the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) was launched in 2012 but only started including technical-vocational scholars in the first semester of Academic Year 2015-2016. The stipend is funded by PED, supporting students enrolled in technical-vocational programs of schools such as the Bangui Institute of Technology, Marcos Agro-Industrial School (MAIS), Ilocos Norte College of Arts and Trades (INCAT), Mariano Marcos State University-College of Industrial Technology (MMSU-CIT), and the Overseas Technical Institute, Inc.
"Mas mabigat ang tech-voc. Mas mabilis magkaroon ng trabaho dito at sa ibang bansa. Kaya huwag kayong mag-alala. Magsipag kayo. Ang master electrician, madaling makahanap sa job fair. Ang mahuhusay na arc welder, pinapadala sa ibang bansa. Talagang sigurado na mayroong trabaho ang mga HRS [hotel and restaurant services], kasi dito pa lang sa probinsiya, kulang na kulang ang serbisyo natin. To all of you, congratulations, magandang choice ito, at siguradong makatutulong sa kada pamilya," Ms. Marcos said.
Since 2010, the PGIN has shouldered over 39,000 elementary, 16,000 high school, and 3,000 college scholarships as a strategy to empower the youth and human capital of Ilocos Norte alongside efforts increasing the provincial employment rate from 3% in 2010 to 50.78% at present.
Recipients of the technical-vocational "Iskolar ni Manang Imee" scholarship are mostly out-of-school youth and the unemployed. The program was developed to maximize productivity of residents throughout Ilocos Norte by aiding them in finding sustainable livelihoods.
The rest of the 432 beneficiaries who were not present during distribution may claim their stipends by presenting valid identification at the Treasury of the Provincial Capitol in Laoag.