DAGUPAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND MESS

FIFTEEN ‘flying’ or non-resident scholars and eight ‘ghost’ scholars of the past Lim administration were initially discovered by the new Dagupan City Scholarship Committee chaired by Mayor Belen Fernandez in its investigation of unqualified scholars so far from 14 of the 31 barangays of Dagupan City as of September 29.

This surfaced from series of discussions of Mayor Belen Fernandez and members of the present Dagupan City Scholarship Committee with the current and prospective scholars in different barangays, attended by barangay captains who certified on their economic status and residency.

There were eight ‘flying’ scholars who were so far found included in the list of scholars in Barangay Salapingao, five in Tebeng, two in Mangin and one in Mamalingling. All were verified to be actually from Bani, Lingayen, Binmaley, Sta. Barbara and Calasiao.

The past scholarship committee headed by Lenny de Venecia approved their applications.

The non-resident scholars registered as voters and actually voted in the last May 9, 2022 elections and sanctions from the Commission on Elections are expected.

Meanwhile, some of the eight ‘ghost’ scholars were shocked to see their names in the list of scholars of the past administration when confronted although they are currently applying for scholarship under the Fernandez administration.

One from Barangay Pugaro suspected some officials of the past administration conspired to include his name in the list of scholars because no one had talked to him nor asked to take the written examination.

His parents now seeking a formal investigation into this matter, not only by Mayor Fernandez but by investigative agencies of the government.

“So, ginamit lang ang pangalan ng bata, para makakubra ng pera,” a mother intoned.

Another student from Barangay Bolosan who has yet to finish her senior high school found her name in the list of scholars. Only students entering college can apply for scholarship.

In her separate dialogues with the scholars in in Calmay, Pugaro, Lucao, Salapingao, Bolasan, Mamalingling, Tebeng, Mangin, Carael and Lomboy, Mayor Fernandez assured them they will not be removed from the list unless they are a ‘flying’ scholars or is not from Dagupan, a  ‘ghost’ scholars and had failing grades in their subjects.

To prevent misuse of public funds, the scholarship committee recommended that tuition and miscellaneous fees for scholars will be directly paid by the city government to the schools where they were enrolled, and no longer directly to the scholars themselves. (Leonardo Micua)

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