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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Drilon proposes incentivizing face-to-face classes

Drilon proposes incentivizing face-to-face classes

Published Nov 10, 2021 12:33 pm

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Wednesday, Nov. 10 proposed incentivizing the opening of face-to-face classes by giving state universities and colleges (SUCs) and public schools access to the P3.5-billion fund allocated for the retrofitting of education institutions under the proposed P5.024-trillion national budget.

Drilon, during the first day of the plenary debates on the national budget, said doing pilot face-to-face classes “will not bring us anywhere.”

The minority chief lamented that the natural instinct of the government when it detects a surge in COVID-19 cases is to lock down the community, which he said is “very, very dangerous” especially for the country’s education system.

“(It) is a wrong policy. We should take the necessary precautions but we should open our classrooms and we advocate for that,” Drilon told the Senate finance panel chaired by Sen. Sonny Angara.

He urged the finance panel to examine granting incentives to SUCs and school officials depending on compliance with certain conditions.

“Shouldn’t we give leeway and discretion to the school authorities, SUCs, Board of Regents, to open classes subject to the compliance with certain conditions? We incentivize them by giving access to this budgeted items? Should we not incentivize the opening of classrooms upon the happenings of certain conditions?” he asked.

According to Angara, sponsor of the 2022 national budget bill, said the Senate’s version of the measure provided P1-billion for SUCs and P2.5-billion for the Department of Education (DepEd) to prepare for the face-to-face classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Angara said the funds would be made available whether or not resumption of face-to-face classes will push through.

But Drilon insisted the possibility of incentivizing the opening of classes depending on compliance to certain conditions should be examined and considered by lawmakers.

“Because I am concerned that the children are already deprived of two years of actual classroom experience and on the other hand our support for the needs of our students on a virtual education system is very pathetic,” Drilon said.

In response, Angara said he would be willing to hear the specifics of Drilon’s suggestion regarding incentivizing the reopening of classes.

Drilon agreed saying he will take up the matter when the Senate discusses the proposed budget of the DepEd and SUCs.

Related Tags

Franklin Drilon deped 2022 national budget FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES Senate Finance Committee Sonny Angara SUCs
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