Laoag City—1,000 senior high school (SHS) scholars, accompanied by their parents and guardians, filled the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in this city as they received their three-month’s worth of stipend from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, on September 16, 2019.
Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos-Manotoc led the distribution and was facilitated by the Provincial Education Department. Alongside Mr. Marcos-Manotoc were Sangguniang Panlalawigan members Atty. Saul Lazo, Atty. Donald Nicolas, and Sangguniang Kabataan Federated President Rafael Medina.
“Alam po natin kung gaano ka-importante angsupport system sa isang estudyante. Rest assured that along with our Chairman on Committee on Education, pag-aaralan po namin nang mabuti kung paano pa i-expand ang provincial scholarship na ito. For now, I like to congratulate all our scholars as well as their parents and guardians for being part of this program,” Mr. Marcos-Manotoc remarked.
Now on its second year, the SHS scholarship srogram is a legislation authored by Mr. Marcos-Manotoc, who was then a provincial board member. It is one of the scholarship grants integrated in the Provincial Ordinance 049-2018, also known as the Sirib Scholarship Program.
SHS Scholarship is a ‘blessing’
“Blessingsa amin itong programa. Ito ang naging daan upang mapabuti pa ang aming pag-aaral,” Joash Duldulao, a Grade 12 student from Solsona National High School, shared.
Beyond monetary assistance, the aspiring information technology specialist lauded the SHS Scholarship for engaging the youth in different provincial programs and activities.
“Hindi lang financial aspect ang binibigay ng gobyerno sa amin kung ‘di nai-involve rin kami sa mga community services at iba pang programa. Bukod pa roon, natuto ako ng time management.”
He further explained: “Malaking tulong itongscholarship upang matulungan ko ang aking mga magulang sa pagpapa-aral sa akin. Sa kahirapan ng buhay ngayon, kailangan talaga ng mga mag-aaral ng suporta lalong-lalo na sa financial.”
PGIN to open medical scholarship soon
During the distribution of stipend, Mr. Marcos-Manotoc mentioned that the provincial government is finalizing the “doctor’s scholarship,” that will provide financial assistance to aspiring medical doctors. Afterwards, the scholars will render “return service” to the provincial and district hospitals.
“Kulang na kulang tayo ng mga doctor dito sa Ilocos Norte kaya naman gagawa tayo ng scholarship para sa kanila.” (Blessing Angel V. Agliam)