Outgoing Provincial Board Member now Governor-elect Matthew Marcos Manotoc, assisted by the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office (INYDO) and the Provincial Education Department (PED) personnel, distributed stipends to more than 600 Sirib scholars at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, Laoag City, last June 3.
Recipients include 239 Sirib Community Leaders Scholars, 219 Sirib Academic Scholars, 154 Sirib Young Leaders Scholars, and 31 Technical-Vocational (Tech-Voc) Scholars.
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa ating mga scholars para sa nilalaan ninyong community service sa mga programa ng ating probinsya. Kahit mga bata pa kayo ay malaki na ang inyong naitutulong sa kapwa dahil matibay ang inyong pagkakaisa,” Manotoc exclaimed.
Aside from maintaining a certain general weighted average, Sirib scholars exemplify youth involvement, as beneficiaries are required to serve 50 hours of community service per semester.
As incoming Provincial Governor, he assured to not only continue these scholarship programs but also to look into possibilities of improving these to benefit more Ilocano youth:
“Ipagpapatuloy po natin ang mga scholarship programs at sana ay ma-improve pa natin ang mga ito upang mas marami pang kabataang Ilocano ang ating matulungang makapagtapos sa pag-aaral,” he added.
Aside from academic scholarships, Manotoc also championed the Sirib Athletic Scholarship. It was specifically implemented to encourage and acknowledge the exemplary efforts of young athletes representing the province in regional and national sports events. (Edison Justin B. Deus, PGIN-CMO)
