Outstanding scholars to get cash

CEBU, Philippines- All Cebu City scholars who are graduating with honors by end the current school year will receive cash incentives from the city government.

This was after the City Council passed the ordinance “Cebu City Scholar Honor Graduate Incentive Program” during its regular session Wednesday last week.

“Incentives must be provided to Cebu City scholars in order to recognize and reward their academic achievement and to encourage others to excel in their studies,” read the ordinance authored by City Councilors Lea Japson and council committee on education chairman Alvin Dizon

As approved, the city government will give P20,000 for a scholar garnering summa cum laude honors; P15,000 for magna cum laude; and P10,000 for a cum laude graduate.

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

“Among the 2,665 Cebu City scholars who graduated (last year), five were magna cum laude and 105 were cum Laude,” Japson said.

The said scholars, however, would not receive cash incentives since the effectivity of the ordinance is not retroactive.

“It (scholars graduating with honors) is a promising development so it is proper to provide incentives. This will urge the students to study well. This ordinance is already applicable to scholars graduating this March,” Japson said.  The city has yet to determine how many scholars are graduating with honors this year.

Japson said that for 2015, the cash incentive will be sourced from the city’s monthly share of Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation funds; for the succeeding years, it would have to be included in the annual budget.

During their session, City Councilor Sisinio Andales asked if it is possible to release the incentives this month.

“The PAGCOR Ad hoc committee can prioritize or urge the mayor to prioritize. It’s better late than never,” City Councilor Margarita Osmeña said, in response.

Osmeña heads the council committee on budget and finance.

To determine how much the city should allocate, each of the accredited schools are tasked to submit a list of scholars who are graduating with honors to the city’s scholarship committee, which will then process the granting of the cash incentives.

Through City Ordinance 2333, or the ordinance establishing the Cebu City scholarship program, City Hall grants a P10,000 per semester financial assistance to each qualified scholar.

City Ordinance 2412 (Ordinance Providing for Graduation Fees Subsidy to all Public Elementary and secondary Schools in the City of Cebu), on the other hand,  grants P150 to each of the public elementary and high school graduating students in Cebu City public schools as graduation subsidy.   (FREEMAN)