Northern samar: The Northern Samar provincial government has welcomed 20 new scholars comprising the second batch of grantees under its Nursing Scholarship Program, officials announced Friday. The initiative aims to bolster the number of qualified healthcare professionals in the region by supporting students in their nursing education.

According to Philippines News Agency, student-applicants from various municipalities were officially admitted to the program, receiving their Nursing Scholarship Certificates from Governor Harris Ongchuan during a ceremony on March 26. In his message, Ongchuan reminded the scholars of their future roles in the public health sector, emphasizing their eventual work in public hospitals and the importance of compassion and understanding in patient care.

As part of the scholarship agreement, grantees are required to serve in public hospitals after completing their studies. The governor highlighted the necessity of competent health human resources in delivering quality healthcare services, equating their importance to that of adequate equipment and hospital facilities.

Vice Governor Clarence Dato encouraged the scholars to persevere, expressing confidence in their determination and resilience in passing the program's stringent selection process. Representing the NSP Board, Provincial Administrator Efren Sabong welcomed the students and their parents during the contract-signing ceremony, marking it as a significant milestone in their journey toward becoming licensed nurses.

The program offers a comprehensive package of benefits to each scholar, covering school fees, related learning expenses, a stipend, and allowances for uniforms and books, amounting to more than PHP70,000 per semester. With 31 scholars from the first batch last year and 20 new grantees in the second batch, the provincial government now supports a total of 51 nursing scholars under the program.