Ordinance rewarding city scholars backed

CEBU, Philippines - Stakeholders invited to yesterday’s session of the Cebu City Council expressed support for the proposed ordinance providing incentives to city scholars who will graduate with honors.

A public hearing was attended by parents, scholars, and scholarship coordinators who were invited by Councilor Alvin Dizon, author of the “Cebu City Scholar Honor Graduate Incentive Program,” which aims to recognize and reward the scholars’ academic achievement and encourage others to excel in their studies.

Dexter Estillero, a fifth year civil engineering student, expressed joy over the proposed measure.

“I am very happy because I am one of the future beneficiaries once this will be approved.  I am a consistent top student, and currently a dean’s list,” he said.

Estillero said the incentive would be helpful to scholars, especially to the ones taking courses that require board exams.

“Ako mama ra ang nagtrabaho, I don’t think she can aid all the necessities when I take the board exams. I don’t know how much it would cost us,” he said, hoping that Dizon’s proposal will be approved before his graduation rites this March.

Jessie Saba, whose son availed the city government’s scholarship, showed the same happiness upon hearing the proposed measure.

“Pabor ako sa maong incentive kay usa kini sa rason nga maka-engganyo sa mga anak nga maninguha sa pagtuon sa eskwelahan,” he said.

Virgil Vallecera, a scholarship coordinator, also supports the proposal, saying this would inspire and motivate the scholars to push forward.

With the support he was hearing, Dizon vowed to seek ways to grant incentives to the scholars who will graduate this school year.

“Ang mo-graduate karon nga school year, we will study, we will make some enhancements as we submit the final,” the councilor said.

Under the proposed measure, a scholar who graduates as Summa Cum Laude will get P20, 000, P15,000 for Magna Cum Laude, and P10,000 for Cum Laude.

Cebu City’s scholarship program started in 2010 and the first batch of scholars who completed four-year courses graduated in March 2014.

“Among the 2,665 Cebu City scholars who graduated, five were Magna Cum Laude and 105 were Cum Laude,” shared Dizon.

Dizon said he will consider the suggestion of fellow councilors Sisinio Andales and Hanz Abella to give the incentives during the graduation rites of the accredited schools, and not during the City’s Charter Day celebration. — (FREEMAN)