THE PHILIPPINE STAR

t2
THURSDAY
il
I
education
JANUARY 16, 2O2O
SDITOR: nArio I{' ! l

Higher budget for subsidies'

lower for new school buildings Sevilla added that theY have
By JANVIC MATEO Service ContractinS. Program/
which orovides financial sub- akeadv selected around 360 out
sidies io junior high school of the irore than 9,000 identified
Lawmakers have reduced the total budget for the students enrolled in Private as tirrget beneficiades of the
construction of new school buildings this year in lieu schools. ftom &e P10.673 billion Drogriun,
of other programs such as the dnancial eubsidies that DroDosal to P10.947 billion. ' tl-ast mile schools are those
coverthe tuition of sfudents enrolled in private schools. ' fhe DepEd has yet to rclease that have less than four dass-
tached agencies has increased the data on the number of new rcoms, with makeshift or non-
Budget documents showed standard rooms, without elec-
ftom billion in 2019 toP5.Zl sfudents whowouldbe covered
that the allocation for the con- P501
tricity, have not been allocated
this year. by the increase in the budget for
struction, replacement and billion funds for rer:airs or construction
The govemment had origi- the assistance programs.
-other of school buildings
completion
It had earlier welcomed ttre for the last iour Years and have
and facilities has beennally proposed a budget of P519
depart- increase in funding for subsidies travel distance oi more than one
reduced to P12.9 billion from billion for the education
and other programs such as the hour from the town centei
the originally proposed P19.9 ment for this year. They also indude those that
billion. Ttre increase was primar y "last rnile schools" and the hu-
to higher funding allotted man rcsource development for have multisrade classes or
Last year, Congress allo- due
rooms, with" fewer than five
cated P14.363 billion for the to sove nent subsidies, which personnel in schools and leam-
ing centers. teadrers, have a student PoPu-
construction of new school infiudds the smior high sc:hool ,
lation of less than 100 and with
buildings. voudrer program. Ptg B Iess than rcquested
Documents released by the Lawrnakers have increased rnore than 75 Dercent of learir-
Reduction ers coming {iom indigenoust
a huge challenge Department of Budget and the funding {or the pilot imPle-
Manasement showed that mentation of the "last mile pmples' groups.
Last weel the Department ln an earlier memorandum,
schools" program, which seeks
of Education (DepEd) de- hwm&ers have increased the to improve those that fail to Education Secretarv Leonor
scribed the reduction of the total budget for subsidies from
the P31.18 billion proposal of meet the basic criteria set for Briones said the Depbd would
funding {or new buildings as work with various agencies
institutions in the Phil-
a huge challenge "as it will the government to P36.679
leaming
bi11ion. ippines. to address the gaps and Pro-
adversely affect the program- vide suppo4 including proper
This is higher thar-r last year'g The 2020 General Appro-
ming of a lower classroom-to- facilities such as classrooms,
allocation of P32.121 billion. oriations Act showed that P6.5
students ratio for the coming
school years." Voucher program gets L ion has been allocated for the standard school fumiture, solar
program, up fncm the origrnally panels for those without access
Congress has also slashed biggest subsldy to electricity and a two-story
Like in previous years, the proposed P1.5 billion.
the budget for the comPutedza- and dimate dtange emer-
tion prpgram, from the original bulk of the funding for subsidies The approved allocation, access
however, is still significantlY gency storage and shelter.
proposed P8.9 billion to orily goes to t}re senior high sdrool The DepEd would also Pro-
P4.8 billion. voucher program with P23.93 lower than lhe original DepEd vide adequate teaching and
This, however, is slightly billion, up by rnore than P5 bil- request of more than P46billion. learning materials, additional
higher than last year's P4.37 lion from the proposed P18.755 Education Undersecretary
for finance Annalpr Sevilla said teachers including trairiing and
billion. billioo whicih is similar to last funds for programs sudr as Gu-
Despite the lower allocation year's allocation. thev would have to prioritize
for sorie programs, the overall
- Lawmakers also increased the'schools that would benefit layaan sa Paaralan and School
ftom the program. inside a Garden.
budget of the DepEd and its atr the budget for the Education
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