Las Piñas subsidizes graduation of 15,781

From mb.com.ph:

by Jean Fernando
March 20, 2014

Manila, Philippines — In this time of the year, honor students get the recognition they deserve. And that is through subsidized graduation rites.

This, as the Las Piñas City government recorded 15,781 graduates from public elementary and high school students, with honor students receiving cash gifts. Of this, 8,994 will finish elementary level while the 6,787 completed secondary level.

Mayor Vergel Aguilar said the city government allocated funds for the students’ toga, souvenir photo, diploma and fare in going to the venue of graduation rites at the covered court of Verdant Acres Subd. in Barangay Pamplona III. This will relieve parents from more expenses in providing for the education of their children, he said.

The mayor said that a free, quality and accessible public school education has been the priority of his administration since 1995 when he became the city mayor. Aguilar spearheaded the establishment of the more than 60-day care and feeding centers for children.

Aguilar said that on top of expense-free graduation, high school class valedictorians, salutatorians will receive P4,000 and P3,000, respectively, while 1st to 3rd honorable mentions will get P2,000 each and P1,000 each for 4th to 8th placers. He said that for elementary graduates, valedictorian will get P3,500; salutatorian, P2,500; 1st to 3rd honorable mention with P2,000 each; and those in the 4th up to 8th place will get P1,000.

Meanwhile, some 523 students taking up business courses at Dr. Filemon C. Aguilar Memorial College of Las Piñas will receive their diplomas as graduates of the city-run college. Aguilar assured employment assistance for graduates with the Public Employment Service Office continually servicing and processing applicants in line with the city government’s efforts to provide jobs for new graduates.

He encouraged those who failed to qualify for the jobs to enroll in vocational and technical courses offered for free at the Las Piñas Manpower Training Center to equip them with skills for employment. The mayor added that livelihood training for women has been strengthened to provide them opportunity for decent living and augment family income. Aguilar added that as high prices of food and poverty prevail, coupled with increasing number of jobless, government shall provide necessary skills trainings and opportunities especially to the out of school youths and women.