CEBU, Philippines — Partido Pilipino sa Pagbabago-Bakud gubernatorial candidate Ace Durano promised to continue the scholarship program of his opponent, Governor Gwendolyn “Gwen” Garcia, should he win in next year’s polls.
Durano said Capitol scholars should not be affected by the change in administration.
“Usa sa mga major concerns sa mga estudyante kada election kay, ‘ma-scholar pa ba ko kung mapildi ang kandidato nga nagsuporta sa akong scholarship?’ Dili sila dapat ma-apektuhan sa unsa man kalambuan sa politika, mao dapat atong ipadayon ang scholarship program sa kapitolyo,” said Durano.
He cited the Paglaum scholarship program which Garcia abolished.
Garcia, in a press interview in 2019, said it was a waste of government funds as the scholars were only required a 75 passing grade.
“This is such a blow to our quest for excellence. This is not what Cebuanos deserve. If we will make them scholars, let them be deserving of the name scholar. Let’s help the poor and marginalized, according to this, but deserving. They should have good academic performance,” the governor said.
The Paglaum program was instituted in 2016 under the administration of then governor Hilario Davide III through an ordinance authored by former vice governor Agnes Magpale.
Under the program, beneficiaries can avail themselves of the scholarship if they can comply with certain conditions such as being from the marginalized sector, whose parents are persons with disabilities (PWDs), are victims of abuse, and must maintain a 75 percent passing grade, among others.
If elected, Durano also vowed to revive the Paglaum scholarship program.
Durano said he understood why Capitol scholars were only asked to maintain such grade because it was meant to give as many students as possible a chance to earn a college degree.
“Dili man ni sila academic scholars, province scholars ni sila. Ang mga bright nato nga igsuon, naay chance maka avail sa mga scholarship programs sa DOST, mga eskwelahan ug private foundations. Kaning Paglaum, para ni sa uban nga magkalisud maintain og taas nga grado, dili tungod nga dili nila kaya, but tungod naglisud sila sa kinabuhi.”
“Kabalo ta nga requirement na halos sa tanang trabaho ang college degree, kani’ng Paglaum scholarship makahatag nila og paglaum nga makakuha og nindot nga trabaho. Ato ning balikon ug pun-an pa gyud nato ang mga makasulod nga scholars,” said Durano.
Durano said limiting the scholarship grants of the province to students who are also eligible for academic scholarships under different government agencies and foundations defeats the purpose.
“No. 1 province man ta. Pina-kadato man ta. Makaya man nato nga mosuporta og daghan estudyante. Ngano dili man nato himuon? Dili nato undangon ang nindot nga program tungod kay dili kita ang nagsugod. Atong huna-hunaon ang kaayohan sa tanan,” said Durano. — PR, KQD (FREEMAN)