As Biñan City Mayor Arman Dimaguila himself recently pointed out, spending on education is one of the “wisest investments” a local government unit can make.
And with classes about to resume again next month – and with the possibility of a full return to “face-to-face” classes by November – the city’s education officials say no expense has been spared in order to ensure that students in Biñan City will continue receiving full assistance from the city government.
Grants for teachers, INB program
Among these “investments” the city government has pushed through, according to City Education Officer Dr. Edmil Recibe, is the P10,000 yearly financial assistance to teachers and non-teaching personnel in the city’s public schools, a program that had been started during the term of former Biñan City Mayor and now Representative Len Alonte.
“The city government recognized the contributions of our teaching and non-teaching personnel to the city of Biñan, especially to our learners. They are our unsung heroes, so itong [financial assistance] ay itong merit na ibinibigay natin para sa kanila,” Recibe told OpinYon Laguna.
The city education officer added that he hopes to have this assistance given to the city’s educators increased, especially with the rising costs of basic commodities and in view of the struggles of the teachers as the country returns to the face-to-face format of learning.
Recently, the city government also donated a minibus to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ (PUP) Biñan City campus.
This minibus will be used to shuttle PUP – Biñan students from the city proper to its campus in Barangay Zapote – a welcome relief for students, especially with the current increase in the prices of basic commodities.
Increasing scholarship slots
As for the issue of the growing number of students in Biñan City – and especially in the backdrop of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the livelihood of its residents – Recibe said the city government is looking into ways on how to accommodate more scholars for its Iskolar ng Biñan (INB) program.
Currently, the city education officer said, the INB program is open for the top 15 percent of the city’s students (in terms of academic rankings), but Mayor Dimaguila has proposed to increase the percentage in order to give more students a chance to continue their studies.
“Maganda naman ang proposal ni Mayor,” Recibe conceded. “But one effect of that is that the city may need additional funds for more scholars. Kung maaaksyunan naman iyan ng city government, however, that should not be a problem.”
Recibe added that his office plans to review the city ordinance creating the INB program and give recommendations to the Sangguniang Panglungsod’s Finance Committee for the additional funds.
Among his proposals, he told OpinYon Laguna, is putting a “ceiling” on the average grade of the top 15 percent that are qualified to receive the INB program to ensure “quality control,” that is, so that the students who receive the scholarship are truly deserving to receive assistance from the city government.
Support for athletes and artists
Meanwhile, the city government has also started the rollout of the Artista at Atletang Binanense College Scholarship Program (ABC), which was passed by the Sangguniang Panglungsod through City Ordinance No. 20-2021 last year.
The program, which falls under the management of the City Education Office (CEO), the City Youth and Sports Development Office (YASDO), and the City Culture, History, Arts and Tourism Office (BCHATO), aims to give the city’s talents a much-needed boost for them to enable them to achieve their dreams, city officials told OpinYon Laguna.
The ABC program is open to local artists and athletes who are about to enter college, whose combined monthly family income does not exceed P15,000 and whose parents or guardians have been registered voters in Biñan City for at least two years.
ABC scholars are entitled to a voucher worth P20,000 per semester that they can use to study at an accredited university or college inside Biñan City.
This specialty is what makes the ABC program different from other scholarship grants offered by the Biñan City LGU such as the INB program, Recibe said.
“Ang Iskolar ng Biñan program ay naka-base sa academic performance [ng mga estudyante], while the ABC Scholarship program is based on the talents and skills of the students, such as the participation of student-athletes in different competitions,” he explained.
Unlike the INB program, ABC scholars must first secure a certification from the YASDO and BCHATO and must have a “record of excellence” in their chosen field.
“Kailangan din na nagkamit ng karangalan ang atleta sa mga pampalakasang kompetisyon sa probinsya, rehiyon, nasyonal man o internasyonal,” YASDO Head Alfred Suarez said in a message to OpinYon Laguna.
Artists must also be a member of the Biñan City Centre for Performing Arts (BCPA) for at least two years, with a 100-percent attendance in all trainings and activities hosted by the center.
According to the YASDO, the office has already accredited nine athletes who are qualified for the program.
“Dahil sa pandemiya ay naapektuhan ang mga sports competition na naging sanhi ng kaunting atletang kwalipikado sa iskolarsyip. Sa susunod na taon ay inaasahang dadami ang mga bilang ng ABC Scholars dahil sa unti-unting pagbubukas ng kompetisyong pampalakasan,” Suarez added.
Preparations for face-to-face classes
Another issue weighing heavily on the City Education Office is the preparation of the city’s public and private high schools in response to Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte’s directive for a full resumption of face-to-face classes by November 2.
Recibe reported that some private schools in the city are now accepting face-to-face classes and are, in fact, “more prepared” to return to the old teaching format than public schools.
“Ang private schools kasi, may option kung magiging face-to-face sila o hybrid mode [of learning]. Pagdating sa mga public schools, kapag sinabi kasi ng DepEd na magface-to-face na sila, kailangan nilang sumunod,” he added.
One issue the city’s education officials still face is the shortage of classrooms, due to the growing number of students in elementary and high school.
One solution Recibe sees is operating in “shifts” to alleviate the shortage, a measure that has already been implemented before the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020.
Recibe also sees no issue in Duterte’s decision not to make school uniforms mandatory,
“pero kung may magdo-donate [ng materials], o di kaya ay gawing project ng local government, mas okay din naman na may mga uniform.”