City scholarship grants face delayed payments

THE release of payments to Cebu City’s partner schools and universities for its scholarship program may be delayed due to shortage of funds.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said the city needed P130 million for its scholarship program but only P100 million is available.

He said Ester Cubero, the city’s education consultant, already requested Mayor Michael Rama for an additional P30 million appropriation.  But Cubero’s request was not included in the second supplemental budget passed in September.

Young said the city government hasn’t released the P1,000 allowance for the scholars, a promise that Rama made during his State of the City Address in June.
He said the accounting office did not release the funds because it lacks an  executive order.

Young, who used to sit as chairman of the local school board, said the City Council already approved the P10-million budget for the scholars’ allowance as part of Supplemental Budget 2. Cebu Daily News tried but failed to reach Rama for comment yesterday.

To avoid shortage next year, the vice mayor said the city should appropriate at least P200 million for its scholarship program. Additional funds are needed as next year’s scholars are expected to reach 5,000.

Under the program, the Cebu city government appropriates P10, 000 for each scholar. It enrolled 3,523 students for the first semester and 4,861 in the second semester of this year.

City scholars are enrolled in 25 schools and universities that have partnered with Cebu City Hall in its scholarship program.

These schools include the CIT University, Cebu Eastern College, University of the Philippines, CCMC College of Nursing, Cebu Technological University, University of Cebu, Cebu Normal University and the University of the Visayas. Some of the scholars are also enrolled in vocational schools like the Don Bosco Technology Center. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac