Persons with disabilities in Navotas are now eligible to receive scholarships from the city government following the passage of City Ordinance 2019-04.
Mayor Toby Tiangco has signed a memorandum of agreement with the beneficiaries of the Persons with Disabilities Students Educational Assistance/Scholarship, together with their parents, guardians and family members.
An initial batch of 467 qualified Navoteño PWD students may now receive monthly educational assistance from the city government.
About 324 belong to special education (SPED) classes, while the remaining 143 are enrolled in regular public schools in the city. Beneficiaries are composed of one college, 19 high school, and 447 elementary students.
“Parents and guardians of children and youth who are differently abled need to work harder to care and provide for their families. We want to lift at least a little of their burden and, at the same time, encourage them to keep their children in school and provide them with proper education,” Tiangco said.
Councilor Ethel Joy Arriola-Mejia sponsored the city ordinance.
Under the MOA, Navotas will provide the beneficiaries with P500 monthly educational assistance or P5,000 per academic year.
The scholars are expected to attend at least 90 percent of the allotted school days per school year and actively participate in their respective classes.
“Our main objective is to ensure that Navoteño children and youth are given the opportunity to learn and develop their individual skills and potentials for them to have a better future,” Tiangco added.
Applicants to the program need to be Navoteños or at least one of their parents/guardians are bonafide residents and registered voters in Navotas. They should be enrolled in a public school or public SPED school within the city.
In addition, they must have a PWD identification card issued or validated by the Persons with Disability Affairs Office and their family should not be a beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
The city PDAO will verify the applications and submit recommendations to the local chief executive. It will also facilitate the processing and distribution of all educational assistance or remuneration to the beneficiaries.