500 college students, beneficiaries of Omnibus Scholarship Program

Samal town Mayor Aida Macalinao prioritizes education among her executive agenda with the recent launching of the implementation of her Omnibus Scholarship Program to 500 college students in a simple activity at the multi-purpose covered court.

The Omnibus Scholarship Program originated from Resolution no. 09-201 sponsored by then councilor Michael Bugay in 2009.
Seeing the need for a wider scope for the effective implementation of said resolution, former Councilor Madel T. Bathan, Chairperson of the Committee of Education, Culture and Tourism in 2015, enhanced the ordinance by amending some of its provisions which she deemed imperative and necessary.

Under the leadership of Mayor Aida Macalinao the ordinance was launched. In her mesage, the good mayor said that, “no person in my
municipality shall be deprived the benefit of education on account of poverty”.
She further explained that the beneficiaries of this program will receive the amount of P2,500. 00 per semester (P5,000. 00 per year) for a period of four (4) or five (5) years depending on the course enrolled by the student whether it be in a public or a private school.

Macalinao also emphasized that, if any of the scholars will graduate with honors such as summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude each shall receive a one (1) time incentive in the amount of P5,000.00 which the audience really appreciated.
But what is more unique in the said Program is the fact that the maximum allowable scholarship grantee per family shall be two (2) including illegitimate children if any.

The scholarship benefit shall be given at the start of every semester upon submission of the student’s registration form coming from the registrar.

She added that grantees must pass all their subjects; without incomplete or failing grades or else that will be the basis of losing their scholarship.

In closing, Macalinao advised the students by saying, “ang ginagawang pagtulong ng pamahalaang bayan ay maliit na porsiyento lamang upang maabot ninyo ang inyong mga pangarap, Ang pinakamalaking hamon ay ang pagkakaroon ng dedikasyon at determinasyon na matupad ninyo ang lahat ng inyong mga naisin”.