Utilize P4 Billion Budget under Bayanihan 2 for teachers digital needs
The Department of Education was urged by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian to make use of the P4 billion funds allotted to support DepEd in the implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).
“I would strongly suggest allocating that (P4 billion) to our teachers, especially in technology that our teachers can use even after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gatchalian.
DepEd Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla said the department is waiting for the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) to give confirmation on the readiness of the P4-billion fund before they make any implementation guidelines.
She also explained that seeing the funds’ limitation, the department has to agree on what things to prioritize, whether the funds will go to teachers’ laptops, self-learning modules, or others.
But Gatchalian said the law covers other provisions to support the implementation of the Basic Education Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP).
He emphasized these include the provision of loan assistance, subsidies, discounts, and grants for the purchase of distance learning tools, including computers, laptops, tablets, and other Information and Communications Technology (ICT) devices.
“Ang modernisasyon sa ating sistema ng edukasyon, tulad ng mas malawak na paggamit ng teknolohiya para sa pagtuturo at sa pag-aaral, ay bahagi ng pagbangon ng ating mga paaralan mula sa pinsalang dulot ng COVID-19,” Gatchalian said.
“Sa tulong ng Bayanihan 2, mapapaigting natin ang modernisasyon ng ating mga paaralan, maaabot natin ang mas maraming mag-aaral, at maipagpapatuloy natin ang edukasyon sa ligtas na paraan,” he said.
