THOUSANDS of students wanting to proceed to college have expressed interest to apply for the scholarship program of Cagayan de Oro City, but officials fear they can't keep up with the numbers.
The number of interested students was evident during the city scholarship program orientation last Tuesday at the Xavier University gymnasium where nearly 3,000 fresh senior high school graduates from all over the city took part in the day-long forum.
Councilor Suzette Magtajas-Daba, chairman of the committee on education, said the City Council has allocated P40 million for the scholarship program this year. But this will be augmented by another P20 million, an amount not utilized by the city for the past 2 years.
"Unfortunately, we cannot pour all our money to education as there are other programs such as health and social services so we will have to look for other ways to gather more funds. But, if so needed, my colleagues at the city council are very much willing to look and add for more resources too," Magtajas-Daba said.
Magtajas-Daba said the combined P60 million would likely be not enough as it would not only be spent to the scholars' tuition fees but also with their monthly allowances, among others.
Magtajas-Daba, however, assured that they will take in more than 1,000 scholars and try to accommodate as many applicants as they can.
She said this can be possible with schools offering them free slots.
"Let's say if we enroll 10 scholars in their school, they could offer us free two additional slots so that can add to our number of scholars," she further said.
Councilor George Goking, chairman of the committees on ways and means and trade and commerce, told students that he will tap the private sector to take in scholars through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.
"Aside from spending their CSR to environment, we can tie them up with our scholarship program. We have many private companies in the province and in the city, so it shouldn't be hard to convince them, anyway this is all for the future of the next generation," Goking said.
Applicants have only until April 15 until the submission of requirements ends.
The expanded scholarship program offers two options for senior high school graduates:
1. Performance-based
- Graduate of Public or Private SHS in Cagayan de Oro
- 85 percent above average
- Resident of a barangay in Cagayan de Oro
2. Income-based
- Graduate of Public or Private SHS in Cagayan de Oro
- 75 percent above average
- Resident of a barangay in CDO
- Belongs to low-income families
All applicants are required to submit scholarship application form, photocopy of the senior high school grades, ID pictures, barangay certificate of residence, photocopy of income tax return as proof of income or Certificate of Indigency. An Indigenous People (IP) certificate of affiliation will also be required if the applicant belongs to an IP group, and a medical or health certificate.