Cebu City to set aside P300M for K to 12

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will be setting aside P300 million for its preparations for the implementation of the K to 12 program come 2016.

Lawyer Jose Daluz III, executive assistant to the mayor, said the amount will be part of the Annual Budget that will be proposed for 2015. The budget for K to 12 will be used to build additional school buildings.

"Bisan ni-promise ang national government to pour billions for the construction of schools, we have to allocate a budget as guarantee that there will be enough school buildings in 2016 during the implementation of the program," Daluz said.

The executive department will present to the City Council the proposed budget for 2015 either at the end of this month or on the first week of November.

Education Program Supervisor Faviolito Alberca of the Department of Education - Cebu City Division said earlier that DepEd needs P307.1 million to implement the program.

The amount would be utilized to purchase about 9,500 chairs and equipment; build 241 classrooms; and hire 395 teachers for senior high school.

Daluz said the city would be able to save around P150 million from the scholarships under the Special Education Fund, considering that there would be no incoming first year college students for school year 2016 to 2017.

The possible surplus amount, he said, may be realigned to augment the budget needed for the school building constructions and the like.

In preparation for the advanced educational scheme, DepEd has conducted a series of orientations, consultations and focus group discussions with stakeholders.

DepEd has also tapped business process outsourcing companies, information technology companies, hotels, resorts, restaurants and other establishments in the tourism industry where students can hone their skills during on-the-job trainings. — (FREEMAN)