Iloilo City exempts top students from entrance exams

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo City Government has approved an ordinance granting academic achievers exemption from college entrance examinations in an effort to recognize and reward excellence.

The amendment to Section 4 of Regulation Ordinance No. 2020-106, titled “An Ordinance Creating the Educational Financial Assistance Program for College Students in Iloilo City,” was approved during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on June 5.

Under the amended ordinance, scholars who graduate as valedictorians, salutatorians, or equivalents in senior high school within Iloilo City are eligible for exemption from competitive entrance exams and are not required to meet the final equivalent rating for college admission.

Section 4 of the ordinance initially outlined the eligibility criteria for program scholars, specifying that candidates must achieve a final equivalent rating of 80% or higher in the competitive examination conducted by the Commission on Higher Education.

The amendment now allows top-performing scholars to bypass this requirement.

Mayor Jerry P. Treñas expressed gratitude to the City Council members who supported the amendment, emphasizing the importance of recognizing academic achievers.

“We should reward those who are achievers. Salamat guid sa tanan nga nag boto favor,” he said.