DepEd hopeful for higher calamity funds in 2020
Published Nov 20, 2019 12:00 am
By Merlina Hernando-Malipot
The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday expressed optimism that there will be “higher budget” for its Quick Response Fund (QRF) in 2020 given the scale of infrastructure and non-infrastructure damage brought about by the recent spate of calamities in the country.
Department of Education (MANILA BULLETIN)
DepEd Undersecretary for Finance Service and Education Programs Delivery Unit Annalyn Sevilla told the Manila Bulletin that the agency will remain optimistic for a higher QRF in 2020 so it could address the backlog in the previous years. “We will always think positive... hopeful and praying for a higher QRF for 2020,” she said.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the proposed budget of the DepEd and its attached agencies for Fiscal Year 2020 was “deemed submitted and approved” by the Senate. DepEd Executive Committee, led by Secretary Leonor Briones, and budget sponsor Senator Pia Cayetano have “successfully defended” the agency’s budget in their commitment to “achieve basic education goals and making improvements in education quality.”
Asked for other budget items that had movements, Sevilla noted that there is no way of knowing at this stage. “The bicam will deliberate on the proposed increase or amendments and agencies are not anymore invited to those meetings or deliberations,” she said.
Sevilla added that DepEd has to “wait for the final GAA 2020” to know if there are movements in the proposed budget - which include the proposal for a higher QRF. Earlier, DepEd said that the backlog of delayed funding to reconstruct damaged schools from 2017 to 2019 has reached P10 billion.
DepEd continues to monitor three developments caused by recent spate of calamities.
Latest available data from the DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service (DRRMS) following the 6.6 and 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Tulunan, North Cotabato showed there are 1,063 schools with reported damages directly affecting 664,606 learners.
There are also 1,098 totally damaged classrooms; 1,324 classrooms with major damage and 4, 441 classrooms with minor damage. The estimate cost of needs for these infrastructure damages, DepEd said, is P3.4 Billion or P2.7billion for reconstruction and P662 million for rehabilitation and major repairs.
DepEd’s DRRMS is also monitoring the 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Kadilingan, Bukidon which affected 454, 456 learners in 1,020 schools under three divisions in Regions X and BARMM.
Latest data showed that a total of 26 schools in Malaybalay City and Valencia City have reported damages such as cracked ceilings and walls.
Likewise, DepEd’s DRRMS is also monitoring the schools affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Ramon” in seven regions. DepEd said that it will continue to coordinate information to Regional and Division DRRM Coordinators of exposed and affected areas and will continue coordination with Regions and Divisions on class suspensions and resumption of classes.
“The DRRMS will continue to monitor the other possible effects of STS Ramon and will include all updates in the next situation report,” DepEd said.
Department of Education (MANILA BULLETIN)
DepEd Undersecretary for Finance Service and Education Programs Delivery Unit Annalyn Sevilla told the Manila Bulletin that the agency will remain optimistic for a higher QRF in 2020 so it could address the backlog in the previous years. “We will always think positive... hopeful and praying for a higher QRF for 2020,” she said.
On Tuesday, Nov. 19, the proposed budget of the DepEd and its attached agencies for Fiscal Year 2020 was “deemed submitted and approved” by the Senate. DepEd Executive Committee, led by Secretary Leonor Briones, and budget sponsor Senator Pia Cayetano have “successfully defended” the agency’s budget in their commitment to “achieve basic education goals and making improvements in education quality.”
Asked for other budget items that had movements, Sevilla noted that there is no way of knowing at this stage. “The bicam will deliberate on the proposed increase or amendments and agencies are not anymore invited to those meetings or deliberations,” she said.
Sevilla added that DepEd has to “wait for the final GAA 2020” to know if there are movements in the proposed budget - which include the proposal for a higher QRF. Earlier, DepEd said that the backlog of delayed funding to reconstruct damaged schools from 2017 to 2019 has reached P10 billion.
DepEd continues to monitor three developments caused by recent spate of calamities.
Latest available data from the DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service (DRRMS) following the 6.6 and 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Tulunan, North Cotabato showed there are 1,063 schools with reported damages directly affecting 664,606 learners.
There are also 1,098 totally damaged classrooms; 1,324 classrooms with major damage and 4, 441 classrooms with minor damage. The estimate cost of needs for these infrastructure damages, DepEd said, is P3.4 Billion or P2.7billion for reconstruction and P662 million for rehabilitation and major repairs.
DepEd’s DRRMS is also monitoring the 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Kadilingan, Bukidon which affected 454, 456 learners in 1,020 schools under three divisions in Regions X and BARMM.
Latest data showed that a total of 26 schools in Malaybalay City and Valencia City have reported damages such as cracked ceilings and walls.
Likewise, DepEd’s DRRMS is also monitoring the schools affected by Severe Tropical Storm “Ramon” in seven regions. DepEd said that it will continue to coordinate information to Regional and Division DRRM Coordinators of exposed and affected areas and will continue coordination with Regions and Divisions on class suspensions and resumption of classes.
“The DRRMS will continue to monitor the other possible effects of STS Ramon and will include all updates in the next situation report,” DepEd said.