Ordinance Approved by Sangguniang Panlalawigan

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan has approved the scholarship ordinance passed recently by Lingayen.

The approved ordinance, entitled “An Ordinance Establishing a Scholarship Program Through Financial Assistance in the Municipality of Lingayen, Pangasinan and Appropriating Funds Relative Thereto,” was authored by Councilor Jay Mark Crisostomo, Chairman of Committee on Education.

According to Councilor Crisostomo, the ordinance, which is also known as “Lingayen Scholarship Program” or the “Iskolar Ako ng Bayan,” aims to provide an opportunity for poor but deserving students to complete their education in state-owned colleges and universities, or even in private schools within the locality or neighboring towns whose tuition fees are marginal or affordable.

The scholarship program prioritizes incoming first year students. It will assist the scholars from first year until they graduate from college.

The program is an integral part of the municipal government’s sincere commitment in providing educational assistance to Lingayeneses and producing homegrown professionals, Crisostomo adds.

Qualifications are as follows:
• Must be Filipino
• Parents’ income must not exceed P200,000.00 per year
• Must take examination from the Municipal Information Office
• Must be a bonafide Lingayen resident.

The said program has a budget allocation of PhP 1,000.000.00. Five thousand pesos (5,000.00) willl be given to every scholar per semester. No grade requirement needed, as long as the students is deserving of the scholarship and he or she passes every subject in school.

Despite the existing Tertiary Act that mandates free college education, Councilor Crisostomo says that the ordinance aims to provide financial assistance to needy students. “Five thousand pesos per semester is not that much, but it is already a great help for students who are financially constrained but have the desire to finish college”, he said.

The young legislator fondly discloses that his greatest inspiration to push for the passing of the scholarship program is no other than Mayor Leopoldo N. Bataoil. The good mayor has given his 101 % support to the program. He also adds that the ordinance is just a continuation of what Mayor Bataoil has started since he was a congressman—giving scholarship to students. (MIO)

For further questions and additional details, kindly inquire at the Sangguniang Bayan Office.