CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government entered into an agreement with two state colleges for a scholarship program for high school valedictorians in the province.
Governor Gwendolyn Garcia signed the memorandum of agreement with officials of Cebu Normal University (CNU) and Cebu State College of Science and Technology (CSCST).
Under the agreement, CNU and CSCST will assist the province in its Valedictorians Assistance Program by offering free tuition fees throughout the whole course.
Recently, the provincial government honored 227 valedictorians who were chosen to participate in its “Pasidungog Alang sa mga Valedictorian” seminar-workshop.
Under the MOA, the province will select the qualified students for the scholarship program and endorse them to CNU and CSCST. Those chosen will receive financial and other assistance.
Scholars are encouraged to choose between the two universities. CNU has campuses in Cebu City and Balamban and will have a new campus in Medellin soon, while CSCST has campuses in San Francisco, Daanbantayan, Danao City, Carmen, Tuburan, Argao, Barili, Malabuyoc and Moalboal.
The scholarship program was temporarily suspended during the later part of the administration of former governor Pablo Garcia. But Garcia said she too recognizes the value of education so she decided to continue the program.
The elder Garcia himself proved that poverty is not a hindrance to attaining education. He had to walk eight kilometers a day from their barangay to Dumanjug town proper to attend classes.
He graduated valedictorian in elementary and high school, which allowed him to avail of a scholarship at the University of the Philippines where he took up law.
He ranked third in the Bar examination. — Garry B. Lao/LPM (THE FREEMAN)