By Anthony Giron
IMUS CITY, Cavite - The Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved an ordinance that will extend due recognition and cash incentives to public and private elementary and high school students who triumph and excel in sports or academic competitions in the provincial, regional, national and international levels.
The benchmark ordinance was approved on Monday by the city council headed by Vice Mayor Arnel M. Cantimbuhan.
It was the first time in Cavite that a local council approved an ordinance that officially grants cash incentives for sports and academics achievers.
The ordinance covers all students in elementary and high schools in Imus who win gold, silver and bronze medals or its equivalent in any competitions in sports and academics in the provincial, regional, national and international levels accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd).
The ‘Dunung at Lakas Cash Incentives Ordinance’ was authored by Councilor Dennis I. Lacson, chairman of the Committees on Finance and Appropriations and Rules and Privileges, and Ex-Officio Council Member Joshua Sherlhanbert Y. Guinto, president of Imus Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) Federation and chairman of the Committee on Youth and Youth Development.
“Dunung at Lakas” are Tagalog words for Knowledge and Strength.
“The ordinance was made as it is imperative to the government of Imus City to extend cash incentives and certificates of recognition to the students who have exhibited exemplary performances in the field of sports and academics in various provincial, regional, national and international competitions to the city,” Lacson said.
The ordinance specifies that the cash incentives set for the gold, silver and bronze medalists in the international competitions are P30,000, P15,000 and P12,000, respectively; P20,000, P10,000, P6,000, respectively, for national competitions and P10,000, P5,000 and P3,000, respectively, for provincial contests.
The annual appropriation for the local government's cash incentives for the winners will come from the City’s General Fund and Special Education Fund.
The DepEd allocates at least P1million fund annually for cash incentives of the winning students in both sports and academic competitions in the provincial, regional, national and international levels.