The city government has significantly expanded its scholarship programs, now supporting over 15,000 students, officials announced on Friday.

During a weekly online program of the City Information Office, Mayor’s Office spokesperson Jann Guillmore Actub reported that the number of scholarship recipients has more than doubled from an average of 7,000 to 15,000 since Mayor Rolando Uy assumed office in 2022.

“Despite no significant increase in the scholarship program’s budget, the number of beneficiaries doubled, and the city government extended the scholarships to law and medicine students,” Actub said.

He added that Uy directed the prioritization of prospective students from hinterland communities.

Richel Dahay, chief of the city education unit, highlighted the crucial support from partner schools, which offer tuition discounts to maximize the impact of the city government’s subsidy.

“We have established memoranda of agreement with supportive partner institutions, enabling us to extend scholarship opportunities to a greater number of students,” she said.

Dahay said one partner school offered a substantial 75-percent tuition discount, allowing the city government to support students who did not qualify for a full scholarship.

For the upcoming academic year, 4,882 students took the qualifying examination for the scholarship program. (PNA)