Test for DepEd: Where to find funds for more than 200 schools

More than 200 schools across the country do not have funds to operate as a result of the delay in the enactment of the P3.8-trillion proposed budget for 2019, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

The DepEd said 276 newly established schools needed P93.6 million for maintenance and other operating expenses.

But as the 2019 budget remains snagged in Congress, the department operates on the reenacted budget for 2018, said Education Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla, who is also a spokesperson for the DepEd.

No funds in 2018 budget

The 2018 budget, however, does not contain spending for the operation of the new schools, Sevilla said.

DepEd records showed that 111 new secondary schools have been established, while 153 others have been converted to integrated schools.

Twelve schools have been made annexes.

Sevilla said the schools would not be closed down, as the DepEd was looking for funds to enable them to operate.

She said the situation had been raised to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Stopgap measures

“There will be fund sources to cover their operations,” she said. “We are doing some immediate measures to help them … We have coordinated with [the] DBM that what we’re doing right now are just stopgap measures.”

Sevilla said the schools were already getting funds from other sources, including their division offices.