ORDINANCE NO: 2021-482 Sponsored by: Hon. Vincenzo E. Cagampang "AN ORDINANCE INSTITUTIONALIZING THE SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF PAGADIAN AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERETO" WHEREAS, Section 1 of Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution mandates that "the State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all; WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act provides many Universities and Colleges with full tuition subsidies for students, but it comes with overwhelming number of applicants and limited courses offered particularly in the City of Pagadian; WHEREAS, the cost of college education is soaring with an average tuition fee in private colleges and universities at P145,000 a year with 7% average annual increase on tuition fees based on the eCompareMo.com's Article "Tuition Fee Guide: 2019 Cost of College Education in the Philippines; WHEREAS, under the existing City Government's Educational Program as embodied in City Ordinance No. 2003-236, the grant of scholarship and educational benefits are awarded based on merits and not on needs; WHEREAS, the City Government of Pagadian deems it expedient to afford the right to quality education that must be enjoyed by all citizens especially the underprivileged and deserving students; NOW, THEREFORE, be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (13th City Council) of Pagadian, in session assembled that: SECTION 1. TITLE. - This Ordinance shall be known as "An Ordinance Institutionalizing the Special Educational Assistance Program of the City Government of Pagadian and Appropriating Funds Thereto." SECTION 2. PROGRAM AND MANDATE. - There is hereby created and instituted a Special Educational Assistance Program, hereinafter referred to as "Program," in the City of Pagadian. The program shall ensure that qualified, underprivileged and deserving students have access to quality education and develop a career path of their own choice in pursuit of poverty alleviation to improve the family's economic status towards the progress and prosperity in the society. To warrant an effective, balance and sustainable implementation, the City Government shall establish a clear-cut guidelines, criteria and requirements. SECTION 3. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS. - To qualify for the program, the prospective student must have the following qualifications: Must be a resident of Pagadian City; Must be of good moral character; Must belong to an indigent or below average income earning family based on the current official poverty threshold in the Philippines as determined by the City Social Welfare Services and Development Office (CSWDO); Must be a graduate from any secondary public or private schools in Pagadian City; Must not be a recipient of any scholarship/financial aid/grant from any government agency, non-government agency, foundation and the like, except for academic scholarship granted by the school for honor students; Must not come from a family with a member already enjoying any scholarship grant from the City Government; Must enroll in any school in Pagadian City or outside Pagadian City duly recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and/or accredited by TESDA; Must willfully accept the responsibilities of a Grantee as set forth in Section 7 hereof and in other applicable guidelines. The above qualifications and requirements notwithstanding, the City Government may, by reason of poverty, abandonment, abuse and other meritorious grounds, exercise discretion to allow the conditional admission of an applicant subject to the rules and guidelines of the Program. SECTION 4. DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS. - As basis for the approval of the student's application for the Program, and prior to the execution of the Contract between the City Government of Pagadian and the Grantee, the latter shall submit to the Office of the City Mayor the following documents, as herein specified, to wit: Accomplished Special Educational Assistance Program Application Form; Adhere to the provisions of this Ordinance, the pertinent Special Educational Assistance Contract, and all other applicable guidelines; Complete the course within the normal duration of four (4) or five (5) academic years, or depending on the course requirement provided that a grantee may apply for a leave of absence or request for the deferment of his/her grant based on meritorious reasons such as health concerns and financial problems, provided further that, in no instance, shall a grantee be allowed to take a leave of absence or deferment for a period exceeding one school year; Carry the maximum academic load per prospectus for each semester except when the units are the last remaining units for completion of the course; Have no failing grades, Incomplete (INC) or No Grade (NG) or unofficially dropped subject in a given semester; Refund the City Government all expenses incurred in connection with the grant within a year after the termination of the Contract on grounds stipulated in Section 9 of this Ordinance; Report or notify the Office of the City Mayor within 15 days from the date of application for educational assistance other than the Program; Secure a written approval from the City Mayor or his/her duly authorized representative before transferring to another academic institution, changing the field of study/course, provided that no grantee, at any given time, shall be a grantee for more than five (5) academic years; Submit a progress report to include subjects taken and grades obtained within two weeks after each semester to the Office of the City Mayor; Participate in the orientation, meetings and other activities that may be conducted by the Office of the City Mayor; and Perform such other acts to give full effect to the intentions of the program. SECTION 7. THE OBLIGATION OF THE PARENT/S OR GUARDIAN. - The parent/s or guardian shall monitor at all times the performance of the grantee and shall do everything necessary for the mental, physical and spiritual well-being of the grantee. The parent/guardian shall assume the primary responsibility and obligation to fund the student's education, attend the orientation and meeting conducted by the Office of the City Mayor, and sign the Special Educational Assistance Program Agreement to be executed by and between the scholar, parent/s or guardian and the City of Pagadian. SECTION 8. THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF PAGADIAN'S RESPONSIBILITY TO THE GRANTEE. - The City Government of Pagadian through the Office of the City Mayor shall have the following responsibility to the grantee, viz: Administer the screening process for the applicants; Orient the grantee on the policies and guidelines of the Program; Transmit the list of qualified grantees to colleges or universities chosen by the grantees; Pay the benefits of the grantee to the college or university; Conduct a regular monitoring and evaluation on the performance of the grantees and the success of the Program in coordination with the academic institution; Submit an accomplishment report to the City Mayor as basis for policy and decision-making on a semi-annual and yearly basis; Grant priority in the employment of the grantee in the City Government of Pagadian when there is vacancy appropriate to the grantee's educational qualification; and Perform such other acts as to give full effect to the intentions of the Program. SECTION 9. GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE. - The contract between the City Government of Pagadian and Grantee may be terminated and further subject the grantee to refund the City Government of Pagadian the cost of actual expenses incurred for the following reasons, to wit: Any violation of the provisions of this Ordinance or breach of the provisions of the Educational Assistance Contract and guidelines; Incurring a "Failed" final grade, an INC or NG or dropped subject; Change the field of study or course without the prior written approval of the City Mayor, or his/her duly authorized representative; Transfer to or change of academic institution or taking a leave of absence or deferment of the Program without prior written approval of the City Mayor or his/her duly authorized representative; Expulsion or suspension from the academic institution; Dishonesty such as, but not limited to, failure to appropriately declare true or necessary information relating to one's academic status/grades, personal and family information, availment of other educational grants or similar programs; and Conviction with finality of any crime or offense. SECTION 10. SOURCE OF FUNDS AND DISBURSEMENT. - Funding for this Program shall be taken from the Annual Development Fund and current funds that has already been appropriated for this purpose as well as in the succeeding appropriations of the City Government for the continuance of this Program, all of which shall form of the fund for the Program. Disbursement of the funds for the Program shall follow strictly the guidelines set forth in this Ordinance and subject further to existing and applicable government issuances, accounting and auditing rules and regulations. A monthly report of receipts and disbursements of this Program shall be jointly certified by the City Accountant and City Treasurer and submitted to the City Mayor. The City Government shall take initiative and explore possible partnership with private sectors and academic institutions for the continuance and enhancement of the Program. SECTION 11. PERSONS/OFFICE RESPONSIBLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM. - The administration and monitoring of the Program shall be handled by the Office of the City Mayor. All other departments and offices of the City Government shall extend any assistance to the Office whenever necessary or as required. SECTION 12. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If for any reason or reasons, any provision of this Ordinance shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts of the provision hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. SECTION 13. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All Ordinances, orders or parts thereof which are inconsistent herewith are deemed repealed or modified accordingly. SECTION 14. EFFECTIVITY. - This takes effect immediately upon its approval and after publication in a newspaper of general circulation. ENACTED AND APPROVED by the Sangguniang Panlungsod (13th City Council) during its 91st Regular Session on 21 July 2021 at the SP Session Hall, 4th Floor City Commercial Center (C3), Santiago District, Pagadian City.