03/11/2025
Many employees and professionals visit our office seeking help with graduate school programs. While they are already earning and supporting families, their budgets for further studies are often stretched thin. Recognizing this common challenge, we were inspired to author an ordinance that provides scholarships for graduate studies, with the aim of increasing professional capacities and making Baguio more productive.
This ordinance seeks to establish a financial grant program dedicated to individuals who wish to pursue further studies at the graduate level. While existing ordinances such as the Baguio City Educational Financial Assistance Grant (BCEFAG) cater primarily to undergraduate students, this ordinance aims to extend similar opportunities to those aspiring to advance their academic and professional qualifications beyond the undergraduate level.
Furthermore, one of the key requirements for eligibility under this ordinance is that applicants must be a registered voter of Baguio City. This criterion ensures that the individual availing for the scholarship is a bonified resident of Baguio City. In this manner, the program upholds fairness and accountability among its beneficiaries.
GRADUATE SCHOOL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PROPOSED
Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President John Rhey Mananeng has proposed an ordinance establishing the Baguio Graduate School Educational Financial Grant, a program that seeks to provide financial aid to qualified Baguio residents pursuing masterβs degrees to promote lifelong learning, professional growth, and inclusive access to higher education.
Under the proposed ordinance, the city government will institutionalize a financial support program for qualified residents enrolled in graduate-level studies recognizing the importance of advanced education in developing local expertise, leadership, and innovation.
To qualify, applicants must be bona fide residents and registered voters of Baguio City, enrolled or accepted in a graduate program recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) or any state university or college (SUC). They must also have at least five years of employment in either a government or private institution within the city and must not be recipients of any other full scholarship covering the same educational expenses.
Each grantee will receive P10,000.00 per semester as financial assistance for their masterβs degree, with possible adjustments every two years based on recommendations from the Baguio City Council or the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), subject to fund availability. The grant may be terminated if the grantee fails to meet academic or service requirements, withdraws from the program without a valid reason, or provides false information.
The administration of the program will fall under the Baguio City Scholarship Council which will include the management of this new grant among its roles and responsibilities under Ordinance 116- 2019.
An initial amount of P2 million will be allocated from the cityβs annual budget under the Special Education Fund or other available sources including the cityβs yearly share from the Philippine Export Zone Authority (PEZA) for the Baguio City Economic Processing Zone (BCEPZ).
The City Scholarship Committee will be tasked to submit an annual report to the City Council detailing the number of grantees, fund utilization, and the overall impact of the program. The City Accounting Office will oversee the proper liquidation of funds.
The proposed ordinance was approved on first reading by the Baguio City Council on October 27, 2025 and referred to the Committee on Appropriations and Finance Cluster A for review. -Jordan G. Habbiling
