THIRD BATCH RELEASES

TWO hundred fifteen more scholars of the past Lim administration received their P20,500.  scholarship fund from the Dagupan City government on March 20, bringing its total number of scholars to 1,264 so far, to date.

It was the third batch of scholars that received educational assistance for one semester from the administration of Mayor Belen Fernandez . The first batch totaled 781, and the second batch, 259 (not 264 as previously reported) or a total of 1,264.

The Lim administration listed 2,300 scholars since 2020, all of whom were guaranteed P20,500 per semester but more than 1,000 have been verified as non-resident scholars, ghost scholars, dummy scholars, or scholars who failed, and did not have a weighted average of 80 percent in all subjects or enrolled only in few subjects in violation of City Ordinance No. 2010-2020 and its IRR.

Fernandez told newsmen that the 215 scholars were from the 781 initially qualified by the City Accounting Office (CAO) because 566 submitted documents that either lacked signatures of barangay chairmen, no grades, or no certification from colleges.

She said her office is employing strict processing and validation process involving the barangay chairmen and college officials in validating the scholars residence, grades and 80 weighted average .

City Legal Officer Aurora Valle said some of the discovered non-resident scholars were easily found out because their documents showed they completed their high school  in schools outside Dagupan, but in Mangaldan or Calasiao.

Asked why the accounting office is suddenly exercising due diligence in verifying compliance of scholars with the City Ordinance No. 2010-2020, Mayor Fernandez said the city accountant and city treasurer, main signatories for the fund releases, are now accountable if they release the funds to unqualified scholars.

According to the City Auditors Office, more than P30 million in scholarship funds released to unqualified scholars by the past administration and COA already issued Audit Observation Memorandum citing ex-Mayor Brian Lim, City Auditor Rosario Catugas, retired City Treasurer Romelita Alcantara, Lenny de Venecia and members of the past scholarship committee.

Asked when the city will finally file the charges in court, Fernandez said they are preparing all the needed documents to ensure that the cases are airtight and will not be dismissed summarily.

Fernandez said the payout for new 2,000 scholars will be released as soon as the 2023 annual budget is endorsed by the seven majority councilor and ultimately passed by the Sanggunian. (Leonardo Micua)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments