SP Catorce assures to expedite approval of the amended ISKO Ordinance
The Sangguniang Panlungsod, through City Councilor Ma Ester Marin-Catorce, Chairperson of the Committee on Education, is expediting the passage and approval of the amended sections of the city’s new ISKO Scholarship Program prior to the acceptance of applicants, which will begin on April, 2023.
During the SP’s monthly press conference, “Ugnayan sa Sanggunian,” which is led by City Vice Mayor Erlinda P. Araquil, Councilor Catorce announced that her committee is making extra effort to expedite the amendments to some sections of the ordinance, particularly the scholarship categories.
“Ang mga gina-consider naton nga mga amendments, lain-lain nga categories, may regular scholars, may irregular scholars, may special scholarship and sa idalom sang special scholarship naton, may ara kita da slots para sa mga IP, may ara man magagikan sa solo parents sector, may ara man maghalin sa persons with disability, kag may gina-propose man ang board, may ara man sang sports and the arts awardee para mahatagan ta man sang importansiya ang mga naga-excel kag nagabaton awards sa national and international levels para indi sila i-pirate sang iban nga kolehiyo sa iban nga lugar,”
(We are trying to consider amending the ordinance as there are different scholarship categories such as regular scholars, irregular scholars, and special scholars. Under the special scholarship, there are slots for IPs, solo parents, and persons with disability. The board also considers scholars coming from sports and the arts, giving importance to those who are national and international awardees as we don’t want them being pirated to join other colleges), Catorce said.
Catorce stated that in order to spare applicants from additional costs, they also intend to simplify the documentation needs.
“Base sa aton original ordinance, ga-require sa kada scholars or aplikante pa lang, may drug test result, may medical exam, so gastos na. So, dulaon na ina ang mga gastos kay ga-apply pa man lang. Once accepted na sila, didto na sila i-require.”
(Based on the original ordinance, the scholars or applicants were already required to undergo a drug test and medical exam. So, we have to do away with the additional expenses while applying. Once they are accepted, that’s the time we will require them), the lady councilor added.
The amendment is in response to the request of City Mayor Eliordo Ogena that the ISKO Ordinance be modeled after the Kabugwason Paglaum Scholarship Program of the province of South Cotabato. Mayor Ogena, who was Vice Governor at the time, was the original author of the aforementioned provincial scholarship program.
The chief executive recently stated in a speech that because the program is apolitical in nature, the scholarship board’s composition must be represented by various sectors. This is necessary to keep political figures out of the selection process and to ensure fairness and objectivity.
“I have always wanted that our scholarship program should not be an instrument of patronage politics but an empowerment, to empower our people, our poor but deserving students”, Mayor Ogena said.
In the previous years, the ISKO Scholarship Board was composed of the Mayor, SK Federation President, ABC President, SP Member-Chair, Committee on Education, and department heads under the executive department and representatives from the private sector and non-government organization.
Earlier this year, the SP had enacted and approved an ordinance amending the composition of the IPSB. The following are the newly constituted members and sectoral representatives of the board:
*Business Sector: Carlito Y. Uy
*Religious Sector: Glycel Ann B. Villaruel
*Women Sector: Marites D. Togonon
*Farmers Sector: Edgar D. Sornito
*Education: Eugene Pamplona
*Youth: Mheco A. Caday
*Urban Poor: Nylbin G. Baylon
*Indigenous Peoples: Ernesto Calan