ORMOC CITY, Philippines — Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th district, Leyte) distributed laptops and printers to the 14 Ormoc City government scholars who graduated with Latin honors this year, as their incentive for exemplary performance in their studies.
Lucy, in a brief ceremony Wednesday inside the office of Mayor Richard Gomez, gave away 13 Lenovo laptops with 13 printers to those who graduated cum laude, and an expensive MacPro to the magna cum laude graduate.
The outstanding scholars are Danica Visabella, who got the MacPro; and Juvelyn Dula, Noven Jayme, Mark Anthony Pecho, Christel Tangcawan, Marvin Teves, Christene Malasaga, Roselle Quilantang, Rea Kirby Costan, Jesseca Veril, Hannah Marie Dagohoy, Sarah Mae Justo, Mary Grace Suan, and Lilibeth Aure.
In 2017, the Ormoc City LGU started the Ormoc Scholarship Program through an ordinance, and 121 young students hurdled the qualification exam and requirements to avail themselves of the opportunity. They were then required to maintain a general weighted average of 2.0.
Throughout their scholarship term, each of the scholars get a P9,000 tuition allowance, book allowance, and P2,000 monthly stipend. Those who graduated also received a P3,000 graduation allowance.
This school year, because of the free tuition policy of the Duterte administration, the city government was able to accept 154 scholars more, due to the savings on the budget for tuition fees.
Since 2011, Lucy has been giving city and congressional scholars a laptop each if they graduate with honors.
Also present in the awarding of laptops were Councilor Nolito Quilang, head of the Ormoc City Scholarship Board, and Councilor Benjamin Pongos Jr. of the committee on ways and means.