BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Government is moving to formally recognize academic excellence by institutionalizing cash incentives for Bacolodnon college graduates who earn Latin honors.
A proposed ordinance granting financial rewards to outstanding graduates was approved on first reading by the Sangguniang Panlungsod last week, signaling the city’s commitment to promoting educational achievement and youth development.
Authored by Councilor Jason Isidro S. Villarosa, the measure seeks to establish the “Cash Incentives for Bacolodnon Graduates with Latin Honors Ordinance,” which would provide monetary incentives to qualified graduates who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance in college.
Under the proposal, graduates who earn the highest academic distinctions would receive the following incentives: P10,000 for Summa Cum Laude, P5,000 for Magna Cum Laude, and P3,000 for Cum Laude.
The ordinance is anchored on constitutional provisions recognizing the vital role of the youth in nation-building and the importance of education in national development. It also cites the Local Government Code, which empowers local government units to promote the general welfare and support educational advancement among their constituents.
According to the proposed measure, the incentive program aims to honor the hard work, discipline, and dedication demonstrated by students in attaining academic distinction while reinforcing the value of education within the community.
“The proposed measure seeks to give merit and honor to the hard work they put into their studies and to recognize the value they place on education,” the proposal stated.
To qualify, beneficiaries must be registered voters of Bacolod City, graduates with Latin honors from a state college or university, and individuals of good moral character with no derogatory record.
Applicants will be required to submit proof of voter registration, a college diploma, certification of Latin honors, and a certificate attesting to the absence of any derogatory record.
The measure also proposes the creation of the Cash Incentives for Bacolodnon Graduates with Latin Honors Committee, which will oversee the implementation of the program.
The committee will be chaired by the city mayor and composed of representatives from the city government, academic institutions, the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and other concerned offices.
To fund the initiative, the ordinance proposes an annual allocation of P1 million from the city’s General Fund and other available sources.
If enacted, the ordinance would institutionalize Bacolod City’s support for academic excellence by providing tangible rewards to students who excel in higher education while encouraging future generations to pursue scholastic achievement.
The proposed measure will undergo further deliberations and public consultations before advancing to second and third readings and, eventually, becoming law./PN
