P30 toga rental fee at one public elementary school in Cebu

Parents of graduating students at a public elementary school in Cebu province may have to shell out P30 to rent a toga on Graduation Day.

 

But the principal of Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School in Barangay Apas in Cebu City said the P30 is voluntary and a "temporary" measure, GMA Cebu reported Wednesday.

 

GMA Cebu earlier received a tip from a concerned citizen that the school was charging P30 for toga rentals, and P300 for a spiritual recollection.

 

The Department of Education earlier reminded schools of a no-collection policy for graduation rites.

 

"Hindi ako nag-order even a single centavo should be collected. It’s the parents discretion na in the meantime wala pang subsidy. Their own initiative to look for toga, yan ang parents’ concern," principal Teresita Manzanades said.

 

Manzanades also said there is no separate P300 fee for the students' recollection.

 

She showed GMA News the school's budget proposal amounting to about P49,000, which was purportedly for diplomas, toga rentals, food, plastic envelopes and ribbons for the school's 328 graduating Grade VI students.

 

The budget also has funds for stage decoration and the rental of a sound system, as well as the stipend for a priest who would say Mass.

 

Manzanades said the Parents-Teachers Association came up with the toga rental fee while waiting for subsidies from the city government.

 

The P30 will be returned once the subsidies arrive and the graduates will not be forced to wear the toga, she said.

 

As for the P300 recollection fee, Manzanades said it was scrapped because it would mean extra cost for the students and their parents.  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News