Group hits 'budget cut' in education amid COVID-19 pandemic
Published May 16, 2020 12:00 am
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
A federation of teachers on Saturday slammed the “budget cut” in education amid the COVID-19 crisis - noting that more funds will be needed by schools this coming school year as the Department of Education (DepEd) implements its learning continuity program.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines, in a statement, denounced the administration's “purchase of P70 billion worth of war materials from the US State Department while it has resorted to at least 10% budget cuts on education and other essential services to fund its COVID-19 response.”
“While the country grapples with a pandemic, the government chooses to injudiciously use scarce public funds, or so they claim, to buy weapons for killing instead of to save millions of lives,” called ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio. “This money should be used to greatly improve social services such as health and education, especially as school opening plans roll out,” he added.
During the May 14 public hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, ACT said that the Department of Education (DepEd) cited an initial P8.2 billion slash in their 2020 budget “aside from the 2019 unused funds” supposedly taken by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
ACT furthered that the modernization package of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) - which merited the arms deal - “should be cancelled so resources are concentrated on fighting the raging pandemic, aiding millions of poor and displaced Filipinos, and preparing for the new normal.”
The group added that as long as the government has not “successfully stemmed” the health crisis and managed its economic impacts, it will “not be safe enough and viable to resume classes” and other socio-economic activities.
ACT also noted that the cancellation of the upgrading of the state's war machineries will be “crucial in fulfilling” the estimated P550 billion requirement of the DepEd to ensure health and safety measures like mass testing for the planned school opening. “Without such, the government will be putting to risk the lives of millions of children, teachers, and staff and consequently endangering public health,” Basilio said.
Basilio stressed that the education sector composes a significant portion of the population. “Without sufficient safety nets, return to classes may spark a worse outbreak that is way beyond what our already overwhelmed health care system can handle,” he added. Given this, ACT noted that DepEd’s budget should be increased with P350 billion additional budget at the minimum.”
ACT argued that a “greater amount” will be needed by DepEd as it takes into account the operational costs for the agency’s proposed Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) which - among others - “will entail massive infrastructure support for the various learning modalities as well as aid to thousands of private school teachers anticipated to be laid off as many are due to close down or to adopt austerity measures.”
(MANILA BULLETIN)
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines, in a statement, denounced the administration's “purchase of P70 billion worth of war materials from the US State Department while it has resorted to at least 10% budget cuts on education and other essential services to fund its COVID-19 response.”
“While the country grapples with a pandemic, the government chooses to injudiciously use scarce public funds, or so they claim, to buy weapons for killing instead of to save millions of lives,” called ACT Secretary General Raymond Basilio. “This money should be used to greatly improve social services such as health and education, especially as school opening plans roll out,” he added.
During the May 14 public hearing of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture, ACT said that the Department of Education (DepEd) cited an initial P8.2 billion slash in their 2020 budget “aside from the 2019 unused funds” supposedly taken by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
ACT furthered that the modernization package of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) - which merited the arms deal - “should be cancelled so resources are concentrated on fighting the raging pandemic, aiding millions of poor and displaced Filipinos, and preparing for the new normal.”
The group added that as long as the government has not “successfully stemmed” the health crisis and managed its economic impacts, it will “not be safe enough and viable to resume classes” and other socio-economic activities.
ACT also noted that the cancellation of the upgrading of the state's war machineries will be “crucial in fulfilling” the estimated P550 billion requirement of the DepEd to ensure health and safety measures like mass testing for the planned school opening. “Without such, the government will be putting to risk the lives of millions of children, teachers, and staff and consequently endangering public health,” Basilio said.
Basilio stressed that the education sector composes a significant portion of the population. “Without sufficient safety nets, return to classes may spark a worse outbreak that is way beyond what our already overwhelmed health care system can handle,” he added. Given this, ACT noted that DepEd’s budget should be increased with P350 billion additional budget at the minimum.”
ACT argued that a “greater amount” will be needed by DepEd as it takes into account the operational costs for the agency’s proposed Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) which - among others - “will entail massive infrastructure support for the various learning modalities as well as aid to thousands of private school teachers anticipated to be laid off as many are due to close down or to adopt austerity measures.”