P64M for free school supplies? Cebu City to ask PNoy

CEBU City’s Local School Board agreed to seek permission from the Office of the President to spend P64 million to buy   bags, school supplies and other instructional materials for  public elementary pupils.

Councilor Jose Daluz III, the school board chairman, said the exemption was needed since these purchases cannot be charged to the Special Education Fund (SEF) as stated by  the Commission on Audit.

Daluz said an option is to charge the purchase to the city’s general fund with the outlay to be carried in the next supplemental budget.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young earlier warned the school  board that the COA may disallow the purchase.

He said the materials may be used by Mayor Michael Rama for his   reelection campaign in 2013.

Young used to be the city’s education advisor.

The board agreed to allocate P64 million for free meals to elementary pupils and the purchase of bags and school supplies.

Another P30 million was allocated for the purchase of buses for selected schools.

Daluz said he learned that a  COA circular prohibits the use of the Specia Education Fund or SEF for purchase of schools supplies in the case of the Province of Cebu vs. COA.  The case said exemption must be secured from the Office of the President.

Daluz said he will ask the mayor to write President Aquino about  the purchase.

While the request is pending, Daluz  said DepEd can go ahead with the purchase of  school supplies for distribution to Cebu City’s elementary pupils as soon as possible.

“If  the President does not approve our request, we can charge the purchase to the city’s general fund.  We are doing this  for a good purpose.  This is for the city’s children,” Daluz told Cebu Daily News. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles