Cebu City to give P150 subsidy to each graduate of the 126 public schools in the city

Elementary and High School graduates of public schools in Cebu City will receive a subsidy from the Cebu City government for their graduation rites. | CDN file photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Graduates of all public elementary and high schools in Cebu City are expected to each receive a P150 subsidy this March for their graduation rites.

Councilor Joy Young, deputy mayor for scholarships and education, told Cebu Daily News Digital that they decided to grant the subsidy because of the Department of Education (DepEd) memorandum, issued in March 2018,  that disallowed the schools  from collecting fees from students for commencement exercises.

Young said that each of the elementary and senior high school graduate of the 126 public schools in the city would receive the subsidy.

“We are just finalizing the MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) between DepEd and the city to seal the deal,” said Young.

DepEd will distribute the subsidy to the different schools in the city, he said.

“Congratulation to the graduates! Thank you for your hard work,” said Young.

Meanwhile, Young said that he was supporting the proposal of DepEd to replace the graduation rites with a moving up ceremony for Grade Six “completers,” which was announced in the DepEd Memorandum No. 025 on Friday, March 1.

“If you look at it logically, elementary pupils will still go to high school. They will not graduate until Grade 12,” said Young.

He said parents should not spend so much for the graduation of these pupils and save the money for their high school education instead.

DepEd however clarified today, March 2, that the proposal has still to be reviewed by its executive committee.

“Should this be approved, DepEd assures all concerned that this will be announced with sufficient lead time. Apologies are extended for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused,” said the memo signed by Secretary Leonor Briones./dbs