City scholars want raise in stipend

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City scholars are pushing for an increase of their allowance, citing increases in the prices of school supplies over the year. 

Regel Garcia, a student of Cebu Institute of Technology-University, made a representation before the City Council on behalf of the scholars to support a proposed amendment to the Cebu City Scholarship Ordinance.

Councilor Alvin Dizon has proposed to amend section 2333 of the scholarship ordinance to give additional P500 allowance to city scholars per semester.

Garcia said their current P500 allowance per semester is not enough to cope with their increasing needs.

“Prices of school supplies have steadily increased over the year. As of now we receive an allowance of 500 pesos per sem to cover all our miscellaneous expenses. This amount is no longer enough,” Garcia said.

Adding to the burden of the scholars is the delay in the release of the allowance. Garcia told the members of the City Council that the allowance for the first semester last year was released only last December.

Councilor Margot Osmeña said that the delay in the release of the allowance may result in some students dropping out of school because they cannot support the daily expenses.

Osmeña said she was told by some parents in the mountain barangays that their children were forced to stop because of the delay in the release of the allowance from the city government.

Ida Ynti, head of the city’s scholarship program, explained that they are trying their best to release the allowance on time but there are requirements that should be complied with before the release.

“We have tried our best to give their allowance before the semester, however, we have several requirements needed by our auditors,” Ynti said.

According to her, scholarship coordinators often times could not submit the requirements on time resulting in the delay.

Before the city treasurer could release the allowance, the school and coordinators must first comply with the following requirements: billing statement, the list of students enrolled, study loads, and the memorandum of agreement.

Aside from the allowance, the president of the association of scholarship coordinators is also pushing for the increase of the tuition fee by 30 to 40 percent. Each city scholar is currently receiving P10,000 for tuition fee.

 Engineer Roberto Base Jr. said the P10,000 for tuition fee is not enough since private schools tend to be more costly.

Meanwhile, Dr. Leonilo Oliva, director - Scholarship Program of the University of Cebu, said that the scholarship program must allow beneficiaries to choose what course to take and shift into another course during their first year.

“Rigid kaayo ang policy nga kong unsa imo result sa exam adto lang gyud ka na course and once they chose another course nga di mao sa result sa ila exam they cannot avail of the scholarship anymore,” Oliva said. —(FREEMAN)