THE Cebu City Government plans to grant cash incentives to new Cebuano lawyers who topped the recent Bar exams.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will leave it up to the City Council to approve a resolution granting such an incentive, taking into consideration the city ordinance governing the matter.

“I will just go with what the council decides,” he said.

Osmeña, in a news conference yesterday, also said that he will welcome Bar topnotchers if they decide to join the City.

The City has been giving cash incentives to qualified topnotchers from different universities and colleges.

It is covered by an ordinance authored by Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos and former city councilor Nendell Hanz Abella, which was approved by the council in 2014.

Christianne Mae Balili, Ivanne D’laureil Hisoler and Rheland Servacio, who are all graduates of University of San Carlos College of Law, placed second, fourth and seventh in the recent Bar exams, respectively.

Based on the city ordinance, first placers in the Bar exams will receive P100,000.

Second to fifth placers will receive P50,000 and P20,000 will be given to the sixth to tenth placers.

For a topnotcher to quality, he or she must be a registered voter of the city. (RVC)