Coinciding the announcement of the 13th executive order of 2009 that institutes automatic college scholarship for valedictorians and salutatorians, the governor also announced on Friday, 13 names of high school graduates who passed the screening for additional Carlos P. Garcia Scholarship this school year.
The list includes three from Tagbilaran City, three from District 1, four from District 2, and three from District 3- -making the total CPG scholars 154 in all.
Governor Erico Aumentado also made public, his apology through an ad for having mistakenly referred to the new scholars as all coming from Tagbilaran City when he announced them over his weekly radio program, Governor Reports simulcast in Tagbilaran-based radio stations.
Bohol Schools Division Superintendent Elpidio Jala chaired the selection committee for the CPG Scholarship.
The new addition to the list are Franz Sarabia, Rubielyn Karaan, and Katherine Calatrava from Tagbilaran City; Aaron Hora, Junimar Emit, and Jilian Jasmin from the first district; Eric Buyan, Alona Fe Ayeng, Marjun Milloria, and Lesterjun Trazo of the second district; Jeremie Jacob, Roselyn Jumawid, and Athena Ampit from the third district.
At present, there are 141 CPG scholars who are now in their second, third and fourth year in college. When classes starts this June, there would be 154 with the 13 additional scholars.
Aumentado intends to also reach out to all valedictorians and salutatorians of the 124 public high schools in the entire province, considering that most of them belong to “families at the border or below poverty line†who have no financial capacity to sustain their children’s college education.
As self-made professional himself, Aumentado- -a lawyer by profession- -made it through college because of scholarships.
“Niagi ko’g kawad-on. Busa, gusto ko’ng hatagan ni sila kay kahibaw ko unsa kalisod ang sitwasyon sa mga kabataan nato nga kabus nga buot mohuman og eskwela apan wa’y ikagasto ilang ginikanan (I experienced growing up in poverty. So I want to give them an opportunity, because I know how hard it is for these children who want to finish school but their parents can hardly afford it),†he said.
Aumentado explained that valedictorians and salutatorians can easily get scholarships, yet many of them still had to hold back their college education because they could hardly afford the miscellaneous expenses.
Through scholarships, Aumentado intends to produce more Boholano professionals, as a way of addressing poverty in the countryside.
On this, Aumentado issued Executive Order 13 on May 18, instituting the Governor’s Scholarship Program for Class Valedictorians and Salutatorians of Public Secondary Schools in Bohol.
Provincial Legal Officer Handel Lagunay read the executive order over the radio program, Governor Reports, on Friday.
It aims “to enable and ensure that deserving public high school graduates from all towns of Bohol, especially those from families that do not have financial means, will receive a college education in a college or universityâ€.
The EO makes valedictorians and salutatorians of every graduating class of public high schools in the province automatic scholars under the governor’s program.
They just need to submit a duly accomplished application form with the Office of the Governor; a certification from the high school principal that he/she graduated as class valedictorian or salutatorian or in some cases, attested by schools division superintendent of the Department of Education.
Then, the scholar and his/her parents or guardian will sign a scholarship contract with the Office of the Governor.
Aumentado’s EO 13 provides each scholar a grant of P5,000 every regular semester or a maximum of P10,000 per school year to partly shoulder the school expenses; the preference for summer job employment in the provincial government; and that “such financial augmentations the concerned municipal local government units may provide for the scholars coming from their jurisdictionâ€.
With 124 public secondary schools here, the provincial government provides P2.48 million for this.
The governor offered his development initiative program fund as initial funding to implement it. Then, its funding shall later be included in the regular budget of the provincial government, based on the EO.
Aumentado also said he will discuss the allocation of additional funds for the expansion of the provincial government’s scholarship program with the local finance committee before he goes to Seoul, South Korea for the 60th anniversary of Philippines-South Korea bilateral relationship and cooperation on May 30.
For their part, the scholars need to carry full semester load as prescribed in the course curriculum and complete the same within the prescribed duration of the course.
They can enroll only in a state college or any private college or university within the province and that they shall not transfer to another school, except for meritorious ground.
They also have to “maintain a general average grade of 2.0 or its equivalent, provided, however, that each subject shall have a grade of not less than 2.75 or its equivalent."
The EO also makes it clear that only meritorious ground can justify deferment of enrolment and that the scholarship grant can be terminated if the beneficiary obtains a failing grade in at least two major academic subjects, commits gross violation of the host school’s policies and regulations, and conviction by a Philippine court of any crime or offense involving moral turpitude. - The Bohol Chronicle
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Topic: Valedictorians and Salutatorians in Bohol (Read 4511 times)