The city government of Valenzuela will fully subsidize the tuition of local university and college students starting October.
Students of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV) and the Valenzuela Polytechnic College (ValPoly) will enjoy full tuition subsidy once the Valenzuela City Free Higher Education Ordinance is passed.
On September 3, more than 6,000 parents and students from the local university and college witnessed the passage of Proposed Ordinance 2016-011 or the “Ordinance Providing for Full Tuition Subsidy in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela and Valenzuela Polytechnic College” at the Valenzuela City Astrodome.
According to Mayor Rex Gatchalian, “This ordinance will grant all the current and future students of the academic institutions a full tuition subsidy and miscellaneous fees including the school ID, library fee, medical fee, newsletter, handbook, laboratory fee, sports fee, multimedia fee and guidance and counseling fee. Every year, each student should pay P20,000 each semester for the tuition and miscellaneous fees.”
The local government’s current subsidy for PLV and ValPoly amounts to P17,500, while the remaining P2,500 of the fees is shouldered by the students.
The city government is expected to shoulder P240 million annually for the tuition subsidy.
“Under the new proposed ordinance, students will no longer have to pay for their tertiary education in the city. However, student beneficiaries of the full tuition subsidy should fully satisfy their academic obligations,” the mayor said.
Among the students’ obligations is to participate in the Valenzuela’s Education 360 degrees Investment Program including but not limited to the Summer Reading Camp and being a mentor for the 3,000 out-of-school youth Valenzuelanos in the Alternative Learning System.
Gatchalian also commended the city council for their initiative in passing the ordinance. According to the local chief executive, the ordinance aimed to give every Valenzuelano youth a chance for a brighter future.
The mayor also highlighted the construction of the new PLV campus at Barangay Maysan. The construction of the 1.6-hectare campus is expected to be completed before the year ends and it will be operational next school year. The new fully wired PLV campus consists of three modern building facilities with hi-tech amenities and computer and engineering laboratories. Aside from the smart IDs to be implemented next year, the students can also access their academic records and class schedule through online transactions.