MAYOR Rene Maglanque of Candaba, Pampanga is pushing for the institutionalization of the scholarship program of the local government to safeguard the interest of constituents.
Maglanque said he has asked the local council to pass an ordinance that will include the funding for the scholarship program in the annual budget of the local government.
“It is not being heard and dissected by the Sangguniang Bayan (Municipal Council) and we are positive that it will be approved because it will benefit not only generations of students, but also their families,” he said.
Maglanque reiterated his commitment to uplift the quality of education received by Candabeños through various programs, including the distribution of financial assistance.
He said at present, the local government assists at least 2,000 students through the scholarship program, wherein each student receives P5,000.
“Alongside the annual increase in our budget, I am planning to increase the number of scholars and the amount of assistance they are receiving,” he said.
Maglanque also noted that the institutionalization of the scholarship program will prevent beneficiaries’ interest from being exploited through political propaganda.
Once institutionalized, he stressed that the program cannot be used by political aspirants in threatening beneficiary-voters to secure their votes.
“I wanted the students and their families to have that sense of assurance that whoever is the mayor, their grants will stand as long as they also remain faithful to the requirements,” he said.