Angara to DepEd: Release internet allowance for teachers before Bayanihan 2 expires

Senator Sonny Angara on Friday urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to hasten the procurement and the release of connectivity load for public school teachers as Bayanihan To Recover As One (Bayanihan 2), which provides for its funding, is set to expire on June 30, 2021.

In a statement, Angara, who chairs the Senate finance committee, pointed out that the funding for the teachers’ allowance were already available after the enactment of Bayanihan 2 as well as the 2021 General Appropriations Act.

“We have heard that the DepEd will now be providing connectivity load to their teachers worth 30GB to 35GB worth of data a month starting in June. This should be done with haste especially with the Bayanihan 2 extension expiring on June 30,” the senator said.

“Ang dami na natin nabalitaan tungkol sa mga guro na nahihirapan na sa kanilang budget dahil sila pa ang gumagastos para sa kanilang mga load. Dapat na mabigay na agad sa kanila ang load para sa data lalo na’t matagal na naman nandiyan ang budget para dito,” he added.

(We have heard a lot of stories that the teachers were struggling with their finances as they need to shoulder the cost of prepaid loads. We should give these load in order for them to access their mobile data especially that the funds for this purpose have long been available.)

Under the Bayanihan 2 Act which was enacted last September 11, a total of P4 billion was allotted to the DepEd for the “implementation of digital infrastructures and alternative learning modalities.”

Since its enactment, Angara noted that only P2.506 billion or 62.6% of the P4 billion total budget were “recently obligated” by the Education department.

Of the obligated amount, Angara said only P32 million were disbursed as of May 7, 2021 with a disbursement rate of 1.28%.

Apart from the P4 billion for the implementation of digital infrastructures and alternative learning modalities, the Senate finance committee chair added that Deped has another P300 million under Bayanihan 2 for the provision of subsidies and allowances to qualified students that has yet to be obligated.

“As of May 7, 2021, the DepEd has recorded a zero percent obligation rate for this particular item,” he said.

The senator has already demanded a report from DepEd on the utilization of the two items under Bayanihan 2 Law which have very low obligation rates.

“Education under the COVID-19 pandemic has been very challenging to say the least. Both our teachers and students have encountered difficulties in alternative and distance learning. We should provide them with all possible assistance to cope with these challenges until face-to-face learning is once again allowed in the country,” Angara said.

Moreover, the lawmaker said DepEd can tap available funds under the 2021 GAA, particularly the maintenance and other operating expenditures (MOOE) and cash allowances for the teachers’ connectivity requirements.

In November 2020, DepEd has asked for a P4 billion from the Department of Budget and Management to cover the implementation of Digital Education, Information Technology and Digital Infrastructure, and Alternative Learning Modalities.

The said fund will also cover the connectivity load of around 3.2 million students and 900,000 teachers across the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic, wherein teachers will receive a P400 monthly load while students will receive a P250 monthly load within three months.—AOL, GMA News