‘Expand use of school funds’

MANILA, Philippines—In a bid to absorb the impact of the rising cost of education, Las Piñas Mayor Vergel Aguilar has urged Congress to amend the Local Government Code (LGC) to expand the use of special education funds.

Under Section 272 of the 1991 LGC, the funds should be used “for the operation and maintenance of public schools, construction and repair of school buildings, facilities and equipment, educational research, purchase of books and periodicals, and sports development.”

But Aguilar said the funds should also be used for teachers’ benefits and instructional materials on top of free bags and school supplies for students, plus graduation expenses.—Jaymee T. Gamil