Monday, June 20, 2005
Central Visayas school fund slashed by P2 billion
By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
CEBU CITY -- The Department of Education (DepEd) 7 will operate on a P6.29-billion budget this year, with an additional P1.38 billion for the construction of school buildings.
The approved amounts are P2.63 billion less than what DepEd 7 hoped the National Government would release to the regional office.
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According to DepEd 7 budget officer Floro Aclan, the budget for personnel services, which is a little over P6 billion, already makes up 84 percent of the agency's total budget for this year.
This means, it will only have P224.6 million for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE).
"Magdaginot gyud ta. (We will have to cut back.) Prices have gone up, especially fuel costs," DepEd 7 Director Carolino Mordeno said.
MOOE covers expenses for travel, training, supplies, materials, communications, transportation, rent, subscription, repair and maintenance, subsidies, taxes, insurance and professional services.
For 2004, the department operated on a reenacted budget of only P5.8 billion.
DepEd 7 proposed for this year P2.77 billion for capital outlay, which will pay for classrooms.
Central Visayas only got a total share of P1.38 billion, although the National Government approved Education Secretary Florencio Abad's request for an additional P1 billion to build schools nationwide. That amount is apart from the P1 billion, which the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) implements.
DepEd 7 physical facilities coordinator Marcial Degamo said the region's share from DepEd's allocation is P67.7 million, while the DPWH 7 will have P71 million for classroom projects here.
Central Visayas needs 5,529 classrooms for next year's projected enrolment of 1.39 million students in both elementary and secondary public schools, DepEd 7 records show.
If a classroom now costs about P400,000, this year's appropriation will only cover over 3,400 structures.
Degamo said that with the limited budget, they were told to prioritize areas classified as black and red, according to classroom shortage.
Black refers to areas without any classrooms, while red areas are those with classes of 56 students and above.
He said all barangays in Central Visayas already have classrooms, but about 30 percent are still congested, especially those in developing towns in Cebu.
These include Consolacion, Sibonga, Minglanilla, Bogo, Naga and Carcar.
Aclan said that with the limited budget, school heads will have to get help from local school boards for their other needs.
This year's budget includes a separate appropriation of P26 million intended for the needs of school division and district offices.
A hardship allowance of P5.6 million, which goes to teachers who serve students in far-flung areas, is also part of DepEd 7's funds. (Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)
(June 20, 2005 issue)
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