Manila, March 27 -- The Surigao del Norte provincial government disbursed PHP11.6 million in educational allowances to 2,326 scholars on Thursday, marking a significant increase in student support for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers led the distribution at the provincial capitol in Surigao City, where each scholar received PHP5,000 for the second semester -a 67 percent increase from the previous PHP3,000 allocation.

"This enhanced support will help our students acquire better learning materials and reduce financial stress," he said.

Recipients included John Andres Penados, an environmental science major at Surigao del Norte State University (SNSU), who noted that the allowance would help him focus on his stu...