By Nova Mae Francas
A LAWMAKER proposed an ordinance to institutionalize the Educational Assistance Program under the Educational Benefit System Unit (EAP-EBSU) and strengthen its programs to cater to more students.
Proponent councilor Antoinette Principe, committee chair on education, science and technology, culture and arts, told reporters it is high time to reorganize the EAP-EBSU to respond to present realities and future demands.
“The EO was established in 2011, and it’s already 2026, daghan nag amendments, we wanted to come up with an ordinance which could cover and protect all that EBSU has been doing,” Principe said.
The city’s scholarship program was instituted in 2008, through Executive Order No. 17 signed by then-Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.
The program has expanded through Executive Order No. 19, series of 2011, signed by former Mayor Sara Z. Duterte. In the same year, Executive Order No. 27 created the Educational Benefit System Unit (EBSU) to consolidate all programs covering educational assistance.
In 2014, Executive Order No. 7 titled “An Order Strengthening the Educational Assistance Program of the City Government of Davao,” was also enacted.
Principe said while the EAP-EBSU has been continuously operating smoothly, there is a need to strengthen its structure, possibly creating an independent department with clearly defined functions, Plantilla positions, and support systems.
“If it is an executive order, if and when there are changes, it may or may not be applied anymore, but if it is an ordinance, regardless of who is the leader of the city, then we will follow the ordinance,” she said.
Asked about the changes to the qualifications, the councilor said that the institutionalization of the EBSU will reconcile all the scholarship programs into one ordinance, including the scholarship for IPs and PWDs.
At present, the EBSU handles Scholarship on Tertiary Education Program; Scholarship on Tertiary Education Program – Financial Assistance; Special Educational Assistance Program; Financial Assistance Program for Lumads students; Medical and Law Educational Assistance Program; Technical and Vocational Skills Training Program, and other specialized educational assistance programs.
In terms of allocation, while there is no ordinance yet, EBSU is being funded annually under the City Mayor’s Office.
“We already have a budget, but if the mayor sees mas damihan ang scholars, it is up to the Mayor’s Office to increase the budget,” she said.
Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, committee chair on finance, ways, means, and appropriations, backed the move, noting education programs will have a large allocation in the city’s budget.
“We have to institutionalize it, meaning it will be there permanently, will be there forever, kahit sinong maging mayor, it becomes a project of the government,” Dayanghirang said.
Principe targets the ordinance to be approved before the deliberation of the budget in October 2026.
