Currimao: The municipal government of Currimao in Ilocos Norte has released a total of PHP300,000 for the pioneering batch of college graduates who were granted cash assistance for their board examination. Mayor Edward Quilala, together with members of the Currimao Municipal Council, personally distributed PHP10,000 each to 30 board exam takers after the flag-raising ceremony attended by the beneficiaries.

According to Philippines News Agency, Currimao Vice Mayor Judith Quilala stated that the financial aid aims to inspire more graduates to strive, serve, and dream bigger for a more progressive community. "The Currimao Municipal Council stands together with Mayor Quilala in a powerful belief: when we invest in people, we invest in the future," she said in an interview.

The Vice Mayor explained that students of any course requiring a licensure examination, such as those related to medicine, engineering, teaching, and fields like agriculture and fisheries, may avail of the program. Government data indicates that Currimao is among the top performing local government units in the country, with an estimated PHP20-million increase in local revenue in 2024.

Next to the agriculture sector, education is a key investment priority of this coastal municipality to uplift its residents from poverty. Dr. Joven Cuanang, a native of Currimao and a neurologist, art collector, curator, and philanthropist, praised the initiative, stating that it will inspire the youth to pursue higher education. He also encouraged the local government to motivate more students to study marine sciences, addressing concerns about the environment, climate change, and sustainability.