By Mizpah Grace Castro (PGIN-CMO) and Jesslyn Keith Valite (Intern)
Ilocos Norte Senior Provincial Board Member Matthew Marcos Manotoc said on Wednesday that processes are under way to offer a scholarship for senior high school (SHS) at the Provincial Government.
“It’s a basic scholarship for low-income and indigenous students,” he shared, “Wala namang limitation sa strand, but of course there are preferred or prioritized strands kagaya ng Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Accountancy, Business, and Management (ABM), and Technical-Vocational and Livelihood (TVL).”
According to his office, it is expected to be approved and placed in effect by August.
The SHS scholarship would be the sixth type of educational grant to be offered by the Provincial Government during the incumbency of Governor Imee R. Marcos, who is at her third and final term.
The most recent addition was the Sirib Athletic Scholarship through Provincial Ordinance No. 005-2016, which was sponsored by Manotoc.
It assists youth in both public and private schools who compete in sporting events such as Palarong Pambansa and the Region I Athletic Association (RIAA) and Ilocos Norte Athletic Association (INAA) meets.
Under the program, lesser-fortunate but deserving student athletes from elementary to college are incentivized for harnessing and developing their skills in sports while also assisted in pursuing their studies.
“I’m hoping that awareness of this sports scholarship will spread, so that more athletes will be encouraged to continue competing,” Manotoc said.
Beneficiaries of the athletic scholarship are selected based on athletic performance, financial need, and satisfactory grades, and are required to render a total of 30 hours’ community service.
Manotoc assured that even persons with disabilities (PWDs) are encouraged to apply for the scholarship and even compete in events such as the Ilocos Norte Youth (INYo) Games, saying, “Perhaps Ilocos Norte can be a trailblazer in terms of sports competitions with PWDs.”
Other grants include the Sirib Young Leader and Sirib Community Leader scholarships through the Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office (INYDO) and the Sirib Academic and Technical-Vocational scholarships through the Provincial Education Department (PED). – Mizpah Grace Castro (PGIN-CMO) and Jesslyn Keith Valite (Intern)
