The City Government of Davao, through its Educational Benefit System Unit (EBSU), has produced 16 more doctors and three lawyers.
The scholars who became new doctors passed the October 2024 and December 2024 Physician Licensure exams while the three new lawyers passed during the December 2024 bar exams.
EBSU Technical Assistant Emilio Domingo Jr. said for last year, two scholars also emerged as Top 8 and Top 1 in their respective board exams.
John Joseph Z. Kagatan, who took Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Management, placed first in the Real Estate Broker Licensure Exam in April 2024. Alexis John Inocentes Olanolan, who completed Accountancy, placed 8th in the CPA Licensure Exam held in May 2024.
The office also recorded 37 scholars who graduated with Latin Honors. Of these, four graduated Summa Cum Laude, 17 graduated Magna Cum Laude while 16 graduated Cum Laude.
“We have a total of 2,512 scholars across all programs and for this year, since there is a change of school calendar, we will open the scholarships by the month of April,” Domingo said.
He said that this year, they will open 500 slots for scholarship due to the increased budget allocation of their office.
“Gidungagan ni mayor ang 300 slots nato and 200 ang mu-graduate basin mu-sobra pa (Our mayor added 300 slots and 200 slots will be vacated by those graduating),” Domingo said.
A new category system will also be implemented.
“For the Scholarship for Tertiary Education Program, we will open category A, B, and C,” Domingo said, adding that those who will be placed under Category A will be entitled to a Php 25,000 per semester stipend, those under Category B will be entitled to Php 20,000 worth of scholarship, while those in Category C will be entitled to Php 7,500 financial assistance.
“I-open namo ni para daghan ta og scholars kay dati kadtong category A lang ang atong gi-open (We will open this to welcome more scholars because in the past, we only opened Category A),” Domingo said. He said this is because of the increased number of slots and also based on the demand.
The General Average required for Category A is at least 93, 90-92 for Category B and 80-89 for Category C.
Interested applicants for the STEP are required to apply online. They have to prepare five requirements – proof of grades, Certificate of Indigency, Certificate of Eligibility, Bureau of Internal Revenue Income Tax Return if both parents have work, and if unemployed, Certificate of Tax Exemption, and Certificate of Residency issued by the barangay.
“Gina-encourage namo ang K-12 nga mu-graduate by April nga mu-apply kay daghan kaayo ta og slots open (We encourage those who are in K-12 to apply because we have many slots open),” Domingo said.
He said they will announce the start of application by April on the City Government of Davao Official Facebook Page. CIO
