MOA for Iskolar ng Lungsod ng Tacurong underway

The local government unit of Tacurong and colleges in the city will soon enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the Iskolar ng Lungsod ng Tacurong (ILT) program in the first semester of school year 2014-2015.

The ILT Board will formulate and finalize the MOA on April 1. It will then be presented to all representatives of colleges in the city on April 15.

In an initial meeting on March 20, city officials and representatives of Notre Dame of Tacurong College and Sultan Kudarat State University discussed the salient features of the City Ordinance 08-2012. The ordinance known as an ‘Ordinance Establishing and Institutionalizing the Iskolar ng Lungsod ng Tacurong Program and Appropriating Funds Therefor’ was approved in 2012, with an aim to implement the program in 2013.
However, the program implementation was affected by the city and barangay elections ban.

During the meeting, City Budget Officer Nestor Nomananap and City Accountant Elma Bides confirmed that ILT program has a budget allocation of P500,000.00 for every school year. Each ‘iskolar’ will be entitled to a P5,000.00 aid every semester, given that he/she passes the selection process.  This program will be open to incoming freshmen students of SY 2014-2015.

Applicants must be residents of Tacurong with good moral character, and whose parents’ annual gross income is not over 120,000.00. An applicant must not be over 22 years old and must have an average grade of 80%, without a failing grade in all his/her high school subjects. The program will not be accommodating those who have already availed government scholarships. No two members of a family shall be granted with ILT benefits at the same time. Grantees of the Special Program for the Employment of Students or SPES are also disqualified to avail of this scholarship.

“We are very eager to pursue with what we have started in 2012. We will identify and support brilliant students belonging to indigent families,” said Mayor Lina Montilla.

The ILT Board through its coordinator, Mr. Allan Freno, will soon release an announcement indicating the date of listing of applicants.

Councilor Ariel Ferdinand dela Cruz (author), Councilor Psyche Sucaldito (co-author), and Councilor Benjamin Fajardo Jr. are positive that this program will not only sustain the iskolars’ education but will also give them opportunities to establish their careers.

ILT grantees will be supported by the LGU until they graduate from any vocational or tertiary courses.
-LGU Tacurong City Information