ORMOC CITY –At least 14 scholars of the city government here who graduated with honors this year received laptops and printers from Leyte Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez as her gift to them.
The cum laude scholars who received 13 Lenovo laptops and 13 printers were Juvelyn Dula, Noven Jayme, Mark Anthony Pecho, Christel Tangcawan, Marvin Teves, Christene Malasaga, Roselle Quilantang, Rea Kirby Costan, Jesseca Veril, Hannah Marie Dagohoy, Sarah Mae Justo, Mary Grace Suan, and Lilibeth Aure.
Danica Visabella, a magna graduate, received an expensive MacPro from Rep. Gomez in a simple ceremony held Wednesday (June 13).
Since 2011, Gomez has been giving city and congressional scholars a laptop each if they graduate with honors in their class, according to a city government report.
Also present during the distribution of their gifts at the City Mayor’s Office were Councilor Nolito Quilang, who heads the Ormoc City Scholarship Board, and Councilor Benjamin Pongos, Jr. who chairs the committee on ways and means.
Through an ordinance, the city instituted the Ormoc Scholarship program in 2017.
At least 121 young students passed the qualification exam and requirements. The scholars have to maintain a general weighted average of 2.0.
The city government scholars get a P9,000 tuition allowance, book allowance, and P2,000 monthly stipend while those who graduated also received a P3,000 graduation allowance, the report said.
Because of the free tuition policy under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration, Ormoc was able to accept 154 scholars due to the savings on the tuition this school year.
(RONALD O.REYES)
