The City Council, during last Monday’s regular session, approved on first reading a proposed ordinance granting scholarship subsidies to deserving students enrolled in the Special Program for the Arts of the city government and appropriating funds for the said purpose.
Under the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr., the city government is authorized to grant scholarship subsidies in the amount of PhP500 monthly to each of the deserving students presently enrolled at the Special Program for the Arts of the Baguio City National High School and Pines City National High School and those deserving students who will enroll in these schools.
Further, scholarship subsidy grants shall be an annual continuing program of the city government and that grantees shall come from graduates of public high schools who will satisfactorily meet the criteria set for the purpose.
The ordinance provided that subsidy allowances shall be charged against any available funds of the city government. Subsequently, the necessary annual funding for this program shall be incorporated in the annual budget of the city.
Applicants for the scholarship grant shall be residents of the city for at least two years; Filipino citizen, of good moral character and able to pass the prescribed interview, screening and evaluation process and graduate of a public school in the city.
The ordinance stipulated that the scholarship performance of the deserving students shall be evaluated every granting period. Only those who obtained a rating of not less than 85 percent general weighted average or its equivalent shall continue to receive their monthly subsidy allowances.
According to the proposal, the grant of the scholarship subsidy shall be implemented for the schoolyear 2024-2025 to the students presently enrolled at the Special Program for the Arts.
The ordinance pointed out that it is important that deserving students of the city who are enrolled in the Special Program for the Arts in high school, particularly those underprivileged and who excel in the field of arts, shall be given full support to enable them to utilize their creative talents and skills into most productive use.
The proposed ordinance is anchored on Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution which mandates that it is a declared policy of the State to give priority to education, science and technology, arts, culture and sports to foster patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress, and promote total human liberation and development.
Moreover, the State recognizes the complementary roles of public and private institutions in the educational system.
Under the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 7160 or the Local Government Code of the Philippines, the concerned Sanggunian is empowered to pass or approve ordinances which shall ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the basic services and facilities which include establishing a scholarship fund for the poor but deserving students in schools located within its jurisdiction. By Dexter A. See
