Ilocos Norte gov’t gives studes stipends, gadgets

By Stewart C. Ocampo

LAOAG CITY – The provincial government of Ilocos Norte through its provincial education department visited towns and cities in the province once again to distribute stipend of provincial scholars.
    This was done by the PED in partnership with Ilocos Norte Youth Development Office (INYDO), and Provincial Treasurer’s Office May 25 to 31.
    Over 1,900 scholars from academic, technical-vocational, senior high schools, doctor of medicine, and Sirib youth leaders received their stipend.
    A total of 3,417 elementary and high school learners in the province received mobile tablets to assist them in their “new normal” mode of learning.
    Two additional scholarships under the Sirmata provincial learners scholarship program of the Provincial Government were recently added to benefit secondary and tertiary students who take arts, and agriculture and fishery courses.
    The arts scholarship program will cater to 300 high school students who take visual arts, drama and theater, music arts, creative writing, and dance arts.
    The agriculture and fishery scholarship program will assist 300 students starting from Grade 9, who take agriculture and fishery-related courses, and a total of 80 college scholars, with 20 beneficiaries per year level.
    Agriculture scholars from secondary level will receive P2,000 stipend per month, while college scholars will receive the stipend, laboratory allowance, and thesis allowance, depending on their year level: 1st year and 2nd year (P5,000 stipend and P5,000 laboratory allowance), 3rd year (P5,000 stipend, P5,000 laboratory allowance, and P10,000 thesis allowance), and 4th year (P5,000 stipend, P15,000 thesis allowance, and P5,000 for other expenses).