Asks members of League of Municipalities of the Philippines to endorse their best graduates from public high schools

(Magpet, North Cotabato)- A total of forty six million three hundred fifty thousand pesos will be released by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) this month of April for its program “One Town, One Scholar” for the school year 2009-2010.

This was announced by Magpet Mayor and League of Municipalities of the Philippines North Cotabato Chapter President Efren Piñol during the meeting of the LMP last Tuesday at the North Cotabato provincial capitol.

Mayor Piñol was recently furnished a copy of CHED memorandum order no. 04 which contains the guidelines for the implementation of “One Town, One Scholar” program. 

Under the program, the LMP through its municipal mayor members will endorse a selected high school graduate to become its town scholar.

The endorsees should belong to the top ten of the graduating class in a public high school, residents of their respective municipalities, and should submit a letter of application to their respective schools. They should also pass the screening to be conducted by CHED

Qualified endorsees will enjoy a 4-5 year scholarship in college. Benefits include free tuition and a semestral allowance not to exceed P 15,000 to cover transportation, miscellaneous fees and other stipend.

Mayor Piñol was very enthusiastic that the best incoming students from each municipality in the province of North Cotabato especially those who belong to low-income families now have the chance of pursuing college education despite the financial crisis affecting them.

“It has been the objective of municipalities in the province to send poor but deserving students to college education, and this is an opportunity for both the lgu and the students to fulfill this goal,” he said.

The fund for One Town, One Scholar program was already included in the CHED’s budget for the current school year.

The Department of Budget and Management has meanwhile pledged to allocate funds depending on the recommendation from CHED to sustain the scholarship until the succeeding school year 2010-2011. (Jimmy Calma)