Councilor lobbies scholarship ordinance

CEBU, Philippines – Deserving students will now have the chance to study for free at the Talisay City College.

This as City Councilor Richard Francis "Choy" Aznar is passing a local legislative measure "establishing the Talisay City College Scholarship Program and appropriating funds therefore."

Aznar, who is the chairman of the Committee on Education and who owns a private school, proposed for first reading the ordinance.

Aznar said the program will address the needs of the poor but deserving residents of Talisay City who want to pursue college courses or vocational courses but cannot afford to pay the tuition and miscellaneous fees.

"Due to economic difficulties, opportunity to pursue higher education for a considerable number of poor but deserving high school graduates of Talisay City is now becoming a sad reality that the city has to face and, if left unabated, may lead to an escalation of social problems," said Aznar in his proposed ordinance.

Under Section 3 of the ordinance, those who are qualified scholars are public high school graduates, graduates of private high school due to a government scholarship, and Alternative Learning System graduates, whose parents are resident-voters of Talisay City.

The applicants will take the Career Rating Exam administered by a licensed psychometrician chosen by the Scholarship Committee.

The committee will handle, manage and monitor the program. It shall be composed of the City Mayor as chairman while the chairman of the Committee on Education will be the vice chairman.

The members of the committee will be the city schools division superintendent, chairman of the Committee on Social Services, ABC President, President of the PTA Federation of Talisay City and President of the Teachers Organization of Talisay City.

The committee will be responsible for all matters relating to the Talisay City College Scholarship Program, as well as for formulating implementing rules and regulations and general guidelines for the program subject to the review and final approval of the Talisay City Council.

Aznar said the grant of scholarship, including the amount to be given for tuition fees and other expenses, will be in accordance with the Implementing Rules and Regulations and General Guidelines formulated by the Scholarship Committee.

Upon approval of the ordinance, the City Mayor and the Sangguniang Panlungsod will appropriate every year an amount from the general fund which shall be enough for the full operation of the program.