Alcover flags delay in scholars’ stipends, seeks accountability

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. has denounced the delay in the release of allowances for thousands of beneficiaries under the Cebu City College Scholarship Program (CCCSP), calling the lapse “deeply alarming” and pressing for immediate corrective action.

In a privilege speech on March 23, Alcover disclosed that scholars enrolled in private universities and colleges are entitled to P10,000 for tuition and P1,000 for school supplies. Alcover said the delay has left many students struggling to meet basic needs.

“These allowances are not mere benefits, they are lifelines. They pay for transportation, meals, school supplies, and daily survival of our scholars,” Alcover stressed, noting that some beneficiaries were forced to borrow money, skip meals, or consider dropping out.

The CCCSP Office attributed the delay to insufficient funds in the 2025 budget and the late submission of billing documents by partner schools, which were completed only in January 2026.

“The First Semester SY 2025–2026 allowances were not processed due to insufficient budget for 2025 and the later completion of billing documents from accredited schools, which were finalized in early January 2026. The Cebu City College Scholarship Program Office has recently been authorized to use the 2026 budget, and processing is now underway. We assure all qualified scholars that efforts are ongoing to release the allowances as soon as possible,” said the CCCSP Office.

Councilor Alvin Arcilla confirmed that the 2026 budget includes allocations to cover the backlog from the previous school year, but acknowledged that the delay caused hardship for scholars and their families.

While processing has begun using the 2026 budget, Alcover maintained that “there was a serious lapse in planning, budgeting, and coordination.”

He also called for accountability, raising questions on why funds were not properly allocated and what measures would be put in place to prevent a recurrence.

Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who has had past disagreements with Alcover on other issues, welcomed the move to raise the concern and urged a closer review of the city’s finances.

“I’m glad… I’d like to thank member Alcover for bringing this matter up. We definitely should look into internally our situation… because especially in view of the fact, the energy crisis… we are going to run in all kinds of problems,” Osmeña said.

The City Council has scheduled an executive session on April 7 with representatives from the Mayor’s Office, City Administrator’s Office, CCCSP, City Budget Office, and partner schools. The session will also tackle the memorandum of agreement with the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).

The meeting is expected to examine the scholarship program, financial planning, and accountability mechanisms to ensure timely support for students.

Alcover ended his speech with a warning: “If we fail to act on this matter, we fail not just as policymakers, but as stewards of the people’s trust. Let us stand for our scholars. Let us ensure that no student is left behind because of administrative inefficiency or lack of foresight.” (CEBU NEWS)