FACT-CHECK: Only students who are residents and voters are eligible for allowance scheme in two Manila-run universities

CLAIM: The P1,000 monthly Student Allowance Program is given to all students of  Universidad de Manila and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

RATING: MISSING CONTEXT

Manila Mayor Marie Sheilah “Honey” Lacuna-Pangan announced in her State of the City Address that all students of Universidad de Manila (UDM) and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) are regular beneficiaries of the Student Allowance Program (SAP) where each student receives a monthly financial assistance of P1,000. 

“Sa pagnanais natin na magkamit ng college degree ang mga kabataan sa Maynila patuloy nating ipinagkakaloob ang monthly allowance na tagi-isang libo para sa lahat ng magaaral sa Universidad de Manila at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila,” she said. 

Her statement lacks crucial detail, however.

Section 5 of City Ordinance 8568 states that only students who are bona fide residents of the City of Manila, registered voters, or whose parents are both residents and voters are qualified for the cash allowance.

Based on enrollment guidelines, only students who are Manila residents are allowed to enroll at UDM while PLM accepts students who are Manila and non-Manila residents. 

Lacuna-Pangan said that the beneficiaries of the SAP Monthly Allowance amounted to 10,771 and 10,923 students from UDM and PLM respectively. Zarena Hermogeno

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Zarena Hermogeno is a Communications student from the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and an intern for PressOnePH. This piece was created under the supervision of PressOnePH’s editors.