Catbalogan honored City Scholars

By TWINKLE JAPZON
March 17, 2012

CATBALOGAN CITY  –  Over 240 graduating high-school students and 500 secondary education students residing in the City of Catbalogan gathered today for the launched of ISKOLARs day dubbed as Mayor Tekwa Cares “ha imo edukasyon, an pag asenso han pamilya ikaw an paglaum.”

The occasion came in before the summer vacation of the students where the City government of Catbalogan allocated a modest amount for various school expenses.  Ms. Nida Redaja-Aroza in an exclusive interview said, the students which were identified by her office belong to the low-income families residing in the City.

The 240 graduating high school student’s primarily received an educational assistance fund from the city since they started high school education 4 years back, according to Mayor Coefredo “Tekwa” Uy. And every year thereto received a meager amount to sustain their secondary education. “Ine nga mga estudyante na eskwela ha iba iba nga mga eskwelahan didhe ha Catbalogan.  Sagdon ko la ha ira nga tapuson an ira edukasyon kay hira an paglaum han pag asenso han ira pamilya”.

Ms. Maricar Luna, a scholar studying at Guinsorongan Integrated School (GIS) who grew up at Barangay Guinsorongan without a father and with only a mother working in between laundries to support their daily family subsistence, shared how the scholarship program has helped her continue with her studies and how she wishes that more youth benefit from program.  Mr. Jason Magbutay studying at Catbalogan National Comprehensive High School (CNCHS) expressed his most sincere thanks to Mayor Tekwa Uy not only for the educational assistance, which he benefitted much but most especially for bringing great change and progress to Catbalogan.

Apart from the warm and sincere stories shared by selected graduating scholars, Mayor Tekwa as assisted by Councilor Step Uy-Tan and SK Federation President Dexter Uy, gave out certificates and special tokens to the 19 scholars who graduated with academic distinctions specifically with more than 90% Average Grade and majority are graduating as Valedictorians and with Honorable Mentions. In turn, the scholars gave Mayor Tekwa a framed poster signed by all the beneficiaries expressing their most genuine appreciation.

An amount of P3,500 each year is allocated by the City Government for a certain iskolar, this according to Sangguniang Panglungsod Chairman on Family Stephany Uy-Tan sustains the secondary education of the iskolars.  She adds that based on her consultations with the low-income families of the City, the parents can hardly sustain even the free secondary education of their children, especially those with bigger family size yet low income parents.  “They can hardly sustain school expenses such as PTA and other so called voluntary school contributions, projects, school supplies and daily subsistence such as fare from home to the school”, according to SP member Stephany Uy-Tan.  With the educational assistance fund, these students goes to school without the worrying if they can pay for the school fees, projects and even their baon’s, she adds.

It was known that the release of the fund goes automatically to the schools where the students are enrolled, the City Social Welfare Office takes care of the school supplies and the remaining amount is released to the students on a monthly basis.