Increase in cash incentives for honor graduates pushed

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon is pushing for at least a 100-percent increase in the incentives to honor graduates under its Honor Graduate Incentive Program.

Dizon has proposed to amend Section 2.2 of the City Ordinance No. 2454, which provides incentives to students who graduate with honors from the city’s public schools.

“Aron madasig  sa pagtoon ang atong mga estudyante sa public schools, nagtinguha ta nga patas-an ang incentives sa honor students. Gamit kaayo kini ilabi na naa ta sa pandemya. Atong ipadangat sa atong mga tinun-an nga nagpangga gyud kanila ang city government,” said Dizon.

The proposed measure was referred to the City Council’s committee on laws, ordinances, and styling for review.

“Realities have changed since the passage of the Ordinance in 2016 and there is a need to make adjustments on the amount of cash incentives to be given to students who graduate with honors factoring inflation,” the proposed ordinance read.

Section 2.2 of the proposed ordinance states that students in public elementary and secondary schools who graduate with honors are entitled to a cash incentive amounting to P6,000 for the Valedictorian; P4,000 for the Salutatorian; P3,000 for the First Honorable Mention; P2,000 for the Second Honorable Mention up to the Eighth Honorable Mention.

At present the city government is granting P3,000 for the Valedictorian; P2,000 for the Salutatorian; P1,000 for the First Honorable Mention; and P500 for the Second Honorable Mention up to the Eight Honorable Mention.

“In an educational setting, the use of incentives for academic achievement reinforces positive behavior towards learning and the recognition provided to honor graduates in public schools in Cebu City will help encourage students to excel in their studies,” the proposed ordinance further read. — FPL (FREEMAN)