CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has approved the increase of the city scholar's allowance recently.
The amendatory ordinance of Councilor Alvin Dizon adds P500 for the allowance of the city's scholars per semester which he considered long overdue.
"This allowance is already a big help to our scholars," Dizon said.
Aside from the board and lodging allowance of the scholars, the City Council has approved to add another P500 to cater to the increasing needs of the scholars in their school requirements and transportation expenditures.
The P500 increase in the scholars' allowance will take effect for school year 2015-2016, which means that the budget for it hasn't been included in the annual budget for 2015.
However, Dizon assured that it will be implemented next school year.
"We will make a representation with the executive department nga isulod ni sa supplemental budget kay wala man gud ni maapil sa 2015 annual budget," Dizon said.
Aside from the increase of the allowance, Dizon is also pushing for a change in the guidelines of the said ordinance as scholars have lamented over the delay in the release of their allowances because of the slow compliance of the scholarship coordinators and schools with the city's requirements.
"We will also enjoin the executive department to release the allowance on time kay mao man nay problema in the past school years maong ato sab giusab ang guidelines sa ato scholarship program," Dizon added.— Glenda B. Tapang, USJ-R Masscom Intern (FREEMAN)