Free dormitories eyed for Nueva Era students in LC, Batac

 Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida

By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)

Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte—The municipal government here, headed by Nueva Era mayor Aldrin Garvida is planning to establish dormitories in the cities of Laoag and Batac that will exclusively cater to college students from the said cities.

“Sapay la kuma ta maituloyen iti mabiit tay ar-arapaapen tayo ken iti munisipyo a maipatakderan kuma dagiti annak tayo a college students nga agbasbasa idiay siyudad iti Batac ken Laoag iti libre a dormitoryo a bukod da ngem inggana nga awan pay ket an-anusan mi paylaeng nga ibaklay kenni apo bise mayor iti pagbayad da iti kasera aggapu iti bukod mi a suweldo malaksid dagitay it-ited iti munisipyo ken iti barangay nga stipend da kada semester,” Garvida said.  

Garvida added that the proposed establishment of dormitories would be a big help to the students’ parents as this would shoulder the expenses of their children for rent and likewise they would feel more secured with the presence of security guards and employees that would look after the said dormitories.

The mayor is hopeful that the Commission on Audit (COA) would grant or allow the proposal for the purchase of lot and at the same for the construction of the building from the LGU’s budget.

However, Garvida also requested the proposed establishment of a dormitory to  the Office of the President and he is still waiting for its result.

Aside from the planned free dormitories, the municipal government currently provides free transportation from the municipal vehicle for the students going to Laoag and Batac every Sunday afternoon and then coming back home every Friday, which he said would make the students fell they are all in good hands.

“Ket maragsakanak unay ta detay arapaap ko iti Nueva Era a maaddaan kuma iti maysa a professional iti kada pamilya ket in-inuten a matungtungpal ta mamati nga iti adal ket isu iti long term solution iti poverty elevation tapnu maikkan iti kada pamilya nga ag progreso,” Garivida stressed.  

Records show that college scholars of Nueva Era has now reached 200 students with an increase from those at Brgy. Barangobong from two college students turned to 17 now. The said barangay is one of the farthest barangays in Nueva Era and it is already adjacent to Sinait and Cabugao in Ilocos Sur and the province of Abra.

The Ilocos Times learned that the reason for some families only having one or two college students in the said barangay was due to the lack of money, which they can’t afford by themselves but because of the financial assistance from the LGU and personal support from the town’s mayor and the vice mayor, the high school students were inspired to continue their studies to college.

Aside from financial assistance, the Nueva Era local government also annually distributes pregnant cow/cattle with priority to families that have college students.

“Dagitoy baka iti napili a maibunong ngamin saan dan a problema iti ipakan da ta root met laeng anus lang iti puonan da  a mapan mangiwarwar, mangpainum ken mangilinong ket dakkel a tulong nukwa kanyada ta mabalin da nga ilaku laketdi agbati dagiiti annak da ta napadasan min iti kalding ket alisto da met nga agsakit no pinagtutudo ken ta baboy nangina met iti feeds a kanen da,” he added     

Upon graduation, the mayor said that the LGU will continue to help those students find employment.