By Leslie Ann Aquino
The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines – National Capital Region (CEAP NCR) has appealed to the government to include their personnel as beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), citing the enrollment downtrend brought about by the COVID-19 has severely affected the financial health of Catholic schools.
(CEAP NCR / MANILA BULLETIN)
"As you know, our school operations are totally dependent on the tuition and fees of our students. As of writing this letter, we are experiencing downtrend enrolment brought about this pandemic," according to CEAP's letter dated June 20 to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate’s basic education committee as reported by CBCP News.
"Our meager savings are fast depleting and in no time could no longer sustain the needs of our personnel," it further read.
"Knowing your concern with public and private education, we, the CEAP NCR Regional Trustees and Committee Chairs are requesting that you include our school personnel as beneficiaries of the second tranche of the SAP of the government," CEAP said.
"With humble hearts and meek mind, we are praying that our plea will merit your favorable consideration," the letter read.
CEAP is an association of more than 1,500 Catholic schools nationwide. In NCR, it has about 171 member schools with more than 30,000 employees.