The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed readiness to assist public schools should they need additional funds for the implementation of progressive face-to-face classes.
During a virtual presser on Friday, Feb. 4, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that schools that were part of the pilot run of face-to-face classes were given P100,000 each as support funds.
With the expansion phase of limited face-to-face classes to roll out this month, Briones assured that DepEd will continue to monitor the participating schools and would provide them with the assistance they need.
In particular, Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla said that there are “ready funds” for expansion schools should they need additional financial support.
“We’re authorized, legally, by the budget law to provide an additional budget to the public schools,” Sevilla said.
However, she explained that the “timing is not appropriate for now” to give additional funding because the schools still have enough funds.
Sevilla explained that schools just received their budget for 2022 which was approved this January.
Unlike in the pilot study which was held at the end of 2021, the expansion phase will be conducted starting this month. Thus, Sevilla said that the budget given to schools is “still fresh.”
“At that time, we do understand that the funds of the school are already depleted,” Sevilla said, noting that the budget of schools is not based on the school year but is calendar-based.
“So ang pera na meron sa mga eskwelahan ay effective January to December,” Sevilla said.
Despite this, Sevilla assured that DepEd will be monitoring the implementation of expanded face-to-face classes, especially the funding availability of participating schools.
If needed, Sevilla said that there is an “option” to provide additional funds to schools that are having difficulties to comply with the requirements of face-to-face classes.
“What we would like to assure is that we have set aside funds at the Central Office that can be distributed to the regional, division, and school level,” Sevilla said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Since DepEd is not allowed to give funds to private schools, Sevilla assured that programs such as Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) remain in place.
“We will make sure that our payables to them, their claims that we will pay out of the voucher program will be prioritized so they can have the funding that they need and they can be ready for the next school year,” she added.
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https://mb.com.ph/2022/02/04/deped-over-6000-schools-assessed-and-ready-to-implement-expanded-face-to-face-classes/