City strengthens scholarship program; helps alumni get jobs

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government’s scholarship program will go beyond free tuition for recipients.

Acting Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros said they are now looking at ways to connect scholars to companies and organizations and capacitate them with skills for them to be more competitive.

“As chairman (of the CCCSP), we are making programs to accommodate students and find jobs for them... We also look forward to them accomplishing more and not just finishing college,” Hontiveros said.

Connecting scholars with companies was one of the highlights of the first Cebu City College Scholarship Program first alumni summit that gathered 400 former scholars of the city.

At least 30 companies participated in the job fair.

Councilor-elect Jocelyn Pesquera echoed Hontiveros’ statement and said the city also wants its scholars to be self-sufficient and “pay it forward the benefits they got from the city government by taking care of their parents and their own self.”

For example, they can enroll at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for free.

TESDA’s Regional Director, Engr. Gamaliel Vicente, Jr., said additional skills mean better job opportunities even to college degree holders.

Hontiveros said the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has assured full support for the city’s scholarship program through its Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (Unifast).

CHED-Unifast’s Humabon Morallano encouraged alumni of the city’s scholarship program to help spread the good news so that more students can avail of the opportunity.

During the summit, alumni of the scholarship program were encouraged to be role models to current and incoming scholars. - JMO (FREEMAN)