An organization of education workers urged President Duterte to call on Congress for an “urgent special session” which will rechannel the budget for the opening of a new school year.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines, in a statement issued Wednesday, April 28, issued this call after the Department of Education (DepEd) announced its plan open the new school year on Aug. 23.
READ:
https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/27/deped-eyes-opening-of-new-sy-on-aug-23-group-bats-for-protection-of-teachers-learners/
In particular, ACT is pushing for the rechanneling of the P19 billion budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to education.
“Ample budget provision for distance learning needs is paramount if we hope to truly address issues with access and quality,” said ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio.
When rechanneled, ACT noted that the said budget “can cover the internet allowance needs of teachers and students” for distance learning which is expected to be further implemented amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country.
Likewise, ACT urged DepEd to echo the call as part of its preparations for another school year of remote learning.
“DepEd should stand alongside us in calling for such,” Basilio said - noting that “it’s not too late to rectify the poor prioritization” in the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
ACT noted that it is well within the powers and duties of the President to order Congress to do this as soon as possible - thus, rechanneling the P19-billion NTF-ELCAC “budget to education will be a good start.” With health and education as among the biggest and most urgent concerns of people, ACT asked the Congress “exhaust its powers now” and not wait for the next budget season.
Legislators from both chambers of Congress expressed their intent to defund the NTF-ELCAC earlier following the latter’s "unfounded red-tagging" of community pantries.