Additional stipend for city scholars pushed

CEBU, Philippines - At least 16,000 Cebu City scholars will each get to enjoy P2,000 yearly allowance for school supply expenses should the proposed amendment to an ordinance will be approved.

City Councilors Alvin Dizon and Lea Japson are pushing for a proposed ordinance also known as “An ordinance amending Section 9 of City Ordinance No. 233 otherwise known as ‘An ordinance establishing the Cebu City College Scholarship Program.’”

The proposed measure aims to grant additional allowance for the board and lodging of scholars who hail from the city’s mountain barangays.

Dizon, chairman of the city council’s committee on education, said that now is the time to increase the allowance of the city scholars after four years of its implementation.

“There is a need to amend the ordinance to strengthen the scholarship program and make it more responsive to the changing times and ensure that it addresses the issues and concerns of the Cebu City scholars,” reads the proposed amendment, which was already submitted to the committee on laws for comment and recommendation.

The proposed measure was actually recommended by the Cebu City College Scholarship Program committee following con-sultative meetings with the city scholars, said Dizon.

He is hoping that this will be passed early next year so that the scholars can avail of the benefits next school year.

Currently, the city government under its scholarship program provides P1,000 monthly transportation allowance to scholars who graduated from the mountain areas.

The city also gives a scholar P10,000 per semester for tuition and other related fees.

The program is designed for high school graduates who cannot afford to pursue college.  (FREEMAN)