The Lapu-Lapu City Government has approved an ordinance establishing a higher education assistance program for financially disadvantaged residents, granting students greater access to college education. The City Council passed Resolution 17-1857-2026 and enacted Ordinance 17-062-2026, creating the “Lapu-Lapu City Educational Assistance for Higher Education Program” (EAHELLC).
Financial Assistance Details
Under the ordinance, qualified beneficiaries will initially receive P5,000 per semester if they maintain a general weighted average (GWA) of 80 to 89 percent. Mayor Ma. Cynthia “Cindi” King-Chan, who approved the measure on May 20, 2026, emphasized that education is the greatest equalizer and that the program opens more doors of opportunity. Students with high academic performance may qualify for a Benefit to Upgrade scheme, increasing assistance to P7,500 for a GWA of 90 to 94 percent and up to P10,000 for a GWA of 95 to 100 percent.
City Funding and Priority Programs
The ordinance institutionalizes a sustainable educational assistance program funded by the city, providing financial support to indigent but academically qualified residents enrolled in colleges and universities within Cebu Province. Councilors Orlan Joseph Carungay and Annabeth Cuizon led the passage of the ordinance. Special incentives are available for students in highly technical and priority degree programs such as Engineering, Social Work, Physics, Fisheries, Accountancy, Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering, Medicine, Law, and other specialized fields. These students may initially receive up to P15,000, with possible increases reaching a maximum of P70,000 per academic year, subject to approval and fund availability.
Initial Funding and Qualifications
The City Government allocated P1 million from the General Fund Proper for the program’s initial implementation. Applicants must maintain at least an 80 percent GWA with no failing grades, be enrolled in a state or local higher education institution within Cebu, belong to an indigent household, and be bona fide residents and registered voters of Lapu-Lapu City or children of registered voters if minors. A merit-and-need-based selection process allocates points based on academic standing, socio-economic status, interviews, and enrollment in priority degree programs. Applicants must not be receiving other government or private scholarship grants with similar benefits, except those under Republic Act 10931 (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act).
Return of Service Requirement
Beneficiaries enrolled in priority degree programs must render two years of service to the City Government as job order personnel after graduation. This obligation may be waived if the local government fails to employ the graduate within one year. Grantees who fail to comply without justifiable cause may be required to refund all or part of the financial assistance received. The Local Youth Development Office (Lydo) will implement the program, while an Educational Assistance for Higher Education Committee will oversee screening, approval, monitoring, and policy implementation.
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit an accomplished application form and information sheet from Lydo, a recent 2x2 photo, school records, certificate of enrollment, course prospectus, and a valid school ID. They must also provide proof of low or no income through an Income Tax Return, BIR tax exemption certificate, or affidavit of no income, along with a Social Case Summary from the City Social Welfare and Development Office. Additional requirements include a Commission on Elections certification of active voter status and a sworn affidavit declaring no similar scholarship assistance from other institutions.
