City Dads OKs Graduation Subsidy

The Cebu City Council last week approved the ordinance shouldering the graduation fees of public elementary and high school students in Cebu City.

In the ordinance, the City hall will give a subsidy of P150 per graduating student in both levels.

The council agreed to charge the amount under the city-sponsored activities in the 2015 budget since this year’s allocation was already submitted.

The ordinance provides that the subsidy can only be spent on 1) printing of the graduation programs and certificates and diploma 2) stage decorations 3) rental of sound systems, if the barangay where the school is located has no sound system or is unavailable for use, 4) rental for chairs, if the barangay where the school is located cannot provide the required number of chairs to be used for the ceremony 5) stipend 6) food, 7) other expenses.

Under the ordinance, the Department of Education (DepEd) shall inform the city, through the Local School Board (LSB), the number of graduates before the end of January of each year. The LSB will then recommend the release of the said funds.

About P 4.2 million is needed for this project as Cebu City has 26, 814 estimated graduating students this school year.