Dizon upbeat on proposal to fund graduation fees

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon is optimistic that his fellow city legislators will support him in the regular session this week by approving his proposed ordinance that will subsidize graduation fees of all public elementary and high schools in the city.

Dizon, who was elected as the new chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Education, said he is set to submit his proposed ordinance for final deliberation at the City Council in their session this Wednesday.

He believes that none of his 16 fellow councilors will oppose his proposed ordinance intended to help students, particularly their parents, from the burden of additional expenses during graduation.

The north district councilor explained that once the ordinance would be passed by the City Council and approved by the mayor, he has proposed that the city would then allocate an annual budget of at least P4 million for the project that will be taken from the city-sponsored activities account.

 “Natan-aw man gud nako nga daghan g’yud nga mga ginikanan ang maproblema intawon panahon sa graduation sa ilang mga anak kay duna ma’y gastohan. Kun maaprobahan kini nga ordinansa, ang City Hall na ang moabaga sa gastohan sa mga tunghaan,” Dizon said.

Dr. Rhea Mar Angtud, Department of Education district schools superintendent in Cebu City, earlier extended her strong support on the said measure as it aims to lessen the burden of the parents.

Angtud said that Cebu City has 15,000 students that are scheduled to graduate this coming March from the elementary division and another 10,500 from the secondary division.

She said DepEd’s allowed graduation fee for every elementary and high school graduate is P90 and P150 each, respectively.

Further, Dizon expressed delight to be chosen as the head of the education committee and at the same time to sit as member of the Cebu City School Board since he said he has a lot of ideas on how to improve the city’s public schools.

 “Suheto kaayo ko sa problema sa mga tunghaan kay mga magtutudlo ang akong mga ginikanan ug nagtudlo usab ko sa usa ka universidad dinhi sa dakbayan,” Dizon told The Freeman.

According to Dizon, once the proposed ordinance would be approved, he will immediately bring up the matter during the meeting of the Cebu City Local School Board for the formulation of the proper policies and guidelines on how public elementary and secondary schools can avail of the financial support from the city.

 “Kita pa unya ang labing una nga lugar sa nasud nga aduna niini’ng mao nga ordinansa nga gitumong aron pagtabang sa pagsulbad sa problema sa mga ginikanan nga adunay mga anak nga mogradwar sa ilang pagtungha,” Dizon said. (FREEMAN)