Alcover wants scholarship for agriculture students

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. has proposed an ordinance granting educational scholarship assistance to qualified city residents who will pursue agriculture-related academic degrees.

The proposed measure entitled “Agriculture Scholar sa Sugbo Ordinance” was referred to the committee on laws, ordinances, and styling; committee on education, science, and technology; committee on scholarship; and committee on agriculture and rural development for review.

“The Cebu City Government shall provide full scholarship grant to ten (10) qualified individuals annually that will take bachelor's degree relating to agriculture studies,” read Section 5 of the proposed ordinance.

“The said grant shall include transportation allowance, book allowance, uniform allowance, school fees, and tuition fee. Provided, the scholarship beneficiaries shall have no failing grades and take full load relating to their subjects every semester,” it added.

Section 4 provides that all city residents between 15 years old to 30 years old who graduated high school may avail the Agriculture Scholar sa Sugbo grant.

For applicants who are 15 years old but below 18 years old, their parents or legal guardians must be bona fide Cebu City registered voters and residents.

The applicant must pass the examination conducted by the primary implementer of the ordinance. Consistent with it, all matters relating to the conduct or content of the said examination shall be provided by the Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Primarily, the implementer of the measure is the city’s Scholarship Program under the Office of the Mayor in coordination with the city’s agriculture department.

After 30 days from the approval of the ordinance, the Office of the Mayor shall create the IRR.

Section 6 states that upon finishing their respective academic degrees, the scholarship beneficiaries shall render mandatory consultancy services to the city government for four years.

The said consultancy services must relate to agriculture research, food sustainability, agriculture tourism, or any matters similar thereof.

Failure to comply shall mandate the scholarship beneficiaries to reimburse all the expenses incurred by the city government relating to the said grant.

“The City of Cebu deems it necessary to incentivize individuals in pursuing agriculture related academic degrees in order to tap their expertise in empowering its agriculture sector, agriculture tourism, or food sustainability research,” read the proposed ordinance.

Once approved, a minimum amount of P2 million annually shall be charged to the General Fund for the immediate implementation of the provisions of the ordinance. — GMR (FREEMAN)