Capitol to have new scholarship, cutting all existing programs

MORE than 1,000 college students named Capitol scholars during the previous administration stand to lose their scholarships next schoolyear.

This is because the Paglaum Scholarship, Cebu Tertiary Education Assistance Program (CTEAP) and another program for salutatorians will be abolished.

These will be consolidated under what is called the Cebu Provincial Grants Intended for Tertiary Students (CP-Gifts).

A proposed ordinance creating the CP-Gifts, authored by Provinical Board Member Christopher Baricuatro, is up for second reading in the next regular session on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. It is most likely to pass.

In an interview with reporters Tuesday, Oct. 1, Baricuatro said if there are no changes to his draft ordinance during the second reading, it will be put on third and final reading.

Once Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia signs the ordinance, CP-Gifts can be implemented in schoolyear 2020- 2021, Baricuatro said.

Under CP-Gifts, Capitol will grant a qualified student a P2,000 monthly living allowance or P10,000 per semester.

Preference will be given to students belonging to indigent families but who have the desire to enrol and finish a degree.

They also hold a general average of 85 percent, have been living in Cebu Province for at least a year, and belong to a family whose annual income is P200,000 maximum.

Applications will be open in June or July next year. Paglaum scholars numbered 1,750 as of June 2019.

This year, 111 of them are expected to graduate. Last year, 62 of them graduated.

Under the Paglaum scholarship, a student receives P10,000 in tuition subsidy and a P1,500 monthly stipend.

Each of Cebu’s seven districts will have a quota of 100 scholars.

The student can enrol in either a public or private school.

The Paglaum Scholarship was created in 2016 through an ordinance authored by then vice governor Agnes Magpale.