CH to give P10 million as additional funds for scholars

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will spend P10 million to give an additional P1,000 to each of the student beneficiaries of the city’s college scholarship program.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Education, said the total amount of the city’s scholarship grant for each deserving college student is now P21, 000.

The City Council in last Wednesday’s session, approved the proposal of Councilor Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa to add P1, 000 to the existing P20, 000 annual scholarship grant or at P10, 000 per semester.

In approving Abellanosa’s proposed resolution, the city legislators requested the City Budget Office, the Accounting Department and the City Treasurer’s Office and other City Hall offices to give priority to the processing of pertinent documents.

“Expedite the release of the additional financial assistance for the Cebu City scholars in the amount of P1,000 each. Release them at the earliest possible time to meet the urgent need for financial support,” the City Council resolution reads.

The city is providing P10, 000 to each of the 8,464 existing scholars and an additional P10,000 for those scholars who are from the mountain barangays. They are studying in 19 private and public schools in the city. Most of them are enrolled at the University of Cebu and Asian College of Technology. 

Abellanosa observed that despite the financial support of the local government to deserving scholars, approximately 20 percent of dropouts has been recorded in school-year 2010-2011.

Records show that there were 4,995 scholars during the start of classes in June 2010, but the figures had dropped to 3,948 during the second semester of last year.

Abellanosa said one of the reasons for dropping out, based on the feedback from guidance counselors of different schools, is related mostly to economic aspects like the lack of sufficient finances for the daily transportation expenses, food and for the reading materials.

Although the P1,000 additional assistance could not answer the needs of the students, but the city legislators said it is much better than doing nothing about the problem.

Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña explained that the city’s scholarship program for deserving high school graduates is one of the projects of the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan. — (FREEMAN)