Ilocos Norte gov’t awards a total of 2.2k scholarships in 2017

By Mizpah Grace G. Castro, PGIN-CMO

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), through the Provincial Education Department (PED) and the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office, has awarded a total of 2,224 scholarships for the year 2017.

This tally includes both the scholarships given during the second semester of Academic Year (AY) 2016-2017 and the first semester of AY 2017-2018. Evaluation for the second semester’s recipients will take place in January 2018.

Of the total, 1,102 of the scholarships were and are sourced from the INYDO, namely: the Sirib Young Leaders Scholarship, Sirib Community Leaders Scholarship, and top five finalists of previous Miss Ilocos Norte pageants.

From 539 scholars during the latter period of AY 2016-2017, the number rose to 563 the following school year.

Meanwhile, the number of Sirib Academic Scholarships, under PED, totaled to 636 for both semesters.

PED also shouldered a total of 434 scholarships in the technical-vocational category, a program aimed primarily towards the underemployed and out-of-school youth to ensure more equal opportunity for skills development and employment both locally and abroad.

Moreover, a total of 52 athletic scholarships under PED and introduced by Senior Provincial Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc were awarded during AY 2017-2018.

Recipients of PGIN scholarships are a mix of students in private and public institutions.

Even with full tuition subsidies provided by the national government for AY 2017-2018, Governor Imee R. Marcos chose to sustain the PGIN scholarship programs, continuing to assist students in paying for the lodging and transportation costs as well as giving them additional funds for books and school supplies.

“Lahat ay pwedeng mag-aral, Lahat, pwedeng mangarap. And now that we have free education, free tuition fees, nothing is impossible for poor yet deserving students,” she said.

“Tuloy pa rin ang paspas dur-as (rapid development) ng Ilocos Norte, leaving no Ilocano behind but rather engaging each one to build a more united and greater home province. Sa lahat ng Iskolar ni Manang Imee, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang ayat (love) at ang asikaso natin sa inyong lahat.” – (Mizpah Grace G. Castro, PGIN-CMO)