THE City Government of Bacolod will distribute free school supplies to all public elementary students on time, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez assured Thursday, August 11, 2022.
Benitez said that they already allotted a budget for the purchase of the education materials.
He said Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the City Council committee on education, has been preparing the purchase of the school supplies.
“It will be distributed not later than the mandated face-to-face school opening on November 2, 2022,” Benitez said.
In 2016, the City Council approved the ordinance providing free educational materials to all students of public elementary schools in Bacolod City.
It was authored by former councilor Caesar Distrito.
Espino earlier said that based on the approved ordinance, the City Government will allocate P15 million for this program.
The City will distribute school supplies such as pencil, ballpen, notebook, paper, crayons, ruler and bag to all pupils from grades one to six in all public elementary schools.
Meanwhile, the City Health Office (CHO) also urged anew the parents to have their kids vaccinated against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
“We strongly advise the parents to have their children vaccinated to avoid alienation for the coming school opening,” CHO Head Dr. Ma. Carmela Gensoli said.
She said she was informed that for the opening of classes on August 22, 2022, the unvaccinated kids will be separated from the vaccinated ones.
“We respect their rights, but it’s traumatic for the kids so the parents should also consider the situation of their children in school,” she added.
Gensoli disclosed that the Department of Education (DepEd) has been coordinating their plans with the CHO.
On August 18, the CHO will launch the “Pinas Lakas” campaign, a nationwide Covid-19 vaccination roll out at the Carlos Hilado Memorial State University in the city’s Barangay Alijis.