The Federation of Associations of Private School and Administrators (FAPSA) sought the assistance of the Department of Education (DepEd) to mediate for the reclassification to a lower type of billing rate for private schools amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation in the country.

FAPSA President Eleazardo Kasilag said that this issue was brought during the Partnership Engagement Virtual Meeting called by Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships and Project Management Service Atty. Tonisito Umali last week.

During the meeting, Kasilag said that the strategies in implementing distance learning delivery modalities for School Year (SY) 2020-202 and the Section 4(n) of the Bayanihan 2 Act- Bayanihan 2 for Basic Education (BBE) Program Implementation by DepEd and Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) were discussed among others.

The meeting, Kasilag said, “resulted in so many viable programs that can help alleviate the sordid condition” of the FAPSA schools due to the pandemic. But the topic that appealed most, he shared, was the part where Umali promised to coordinate with Meralco and the water companies to “downgrade the classification of private schools from industrial to residential meters.”

Kasilag pointed out that even if there were no face-to-face classes being held in all private schools due to school closures mandated by the government, the Meralco and water bills private schools have incurred seemed to further increase.

“Nobody is using the rooms since the students are working at home and doing online learning and only a handful of teachers come on a scheduled basis to respect protocols on social distancing, but the Meralco and water bills (Manila Water and Maynilad) do not change,” Kasilag said.

“This is deplorable since FAPSA suffered a reduced number of enrollees and some of their members have closed already,” he added.

Kasilag expressed optimism that through Umali- as part of DepEd continuing engagement with in the goal of helping the private school in the spirit of their partnership, Meralco and Water utilities “shall reduce the service rate classification from commercial or industrial to residential or institutional of FAPSA schools in the country at least during this pandemic.”

FAPSA, Kasilag clarified, is not asking for non-payment but just the reclassification to lower the type of billing rate.

“DepEd assured to mediate Visayas and Mindanao private schools also requested to be delivered in this big gesture of DepEd which is a great assistance at this time,” he ended.