City Mayors Brace for a "New Normal" School Year


By LCP Secretariat
July 13, 2020 - Quezon City


In view of the national government's instruction to LGUs to support the opening of classes on 24 August 2020, city mayors invited the DepEd to a dialogue on 10 July 2020 to further clarify the role of local governments in implementing the Basic Education – Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) which is expected to guide the delivery of basic education in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Through an online session organized by the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) and the COVID-19 Action Network Philippines (CAN), DepEd Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla and city mayors tackled local issues regarding the opening of classes and the implementation of blended learning proposed by the education department for the upcoming school year.

 

LCP National President and Bacolod City Mayor Bing Leonardia opened the dialogue by calling for a different approach in utilizing the Special Education Fund (SEF)—created to finance basic education in local governments—especially in light of the ongoing public health crisis.

 

“With COVID in the background, I think it is more than just liberalization [of utilizing the fund],” he said. “It is time for us to even revolutionize the SEF and hopefully, this forum can lead into something that will give us more clarity and decisive action.”

 

Usec. Sevilla began the discussion by sharing an overview of the DepEd BE-LCP, as well as the funding strategies for the effective implementation of the program. Some of these strategies include recalibration of the agency's budget; utilization of the SEF in coordination with LGUs; access to the Official Development Assistance (ODA); and maximization of private sector contributions.

 

The undersecretary also stressed the need for quality education despite the dangers and challenges that the country is facing.

 

“[Education] must continue,” Sevilla said. “Otherwise, mas malaki po ang mawawala sa atin if we will not continue.”

 

To this end, Usec. Sevilla disclosed that the DepEd, DILG, and DBM are currently discussing the proposed amendments to the 2017 Joint Circular on SEF utilization to facilitate and allow expenditures that are related to the implementation of the BE-LCP in local governments.

 

FACE-TO-FACE LEARNING PUSHED

In the ensuing open forum moderated by Tabaco City Mayor and LCP Focal Mayor for the SDGs Krisel Lagman-Luistro, one key issue in relation to the agency's learning continuity plan was echoed by many attendees in the session.

 

Quite a number of city mayors especially those with low to no cases of COVID-19 in their localities are calling for DepEd to allow the conduct of face-to-face classes due to the steep cost of distance learning when compared to their current SEF budgets.

 

For example, Vigan Mayor Carlo Medina shared that the total cost of producing modules for distance learning in his city is estimated at PHP 74 million which is five times higher compared to their current SEF of only PHP 15 million.

 

This resonated with a number of LGUs during the dialogue and appeared to be the primary reason why distance learning has not been fully endorsed by local chief executives as a viable mode of education.

 

Usec. Sevilla clarified that the decision to allow face-to-face learning depends on the approval of the IATF-EID. She nonetheless gave the assurance that the DepEd is ready for this proposal as classroom learning, albeit conditional, is still included in the agency's blended learning program in times of crisis.

 

On the issue of funding, the undersecretary shared that the DepEd is scheduled to transfer DBM-approved funds to LGUs to help augment their respective SEFs.

 

The agency is also working to propose an additional provision in the Bayanihan Act 2 that will classify BE-LCP expenses under emergency procurement, foregoing the regular procurement process mandated by RA 9148 or the Government Procurement Reform Act.

 

Meanwhile, DepEd Undersecretary Resvee Escobedo, also in attendance, suggested that the League of Cities of the Philippines write an appeal to the IATF-EID allowing for face-to-face learning in low risk areas.

 

This proposal was supported by LCP Secretary-General and Calapan City Mayor Arnan Panaligan, who added that there are rural barangays with consistently low number of enrollees that are better suited for face-to-face learning.

 

AVERTING AN EDUCATION CRISIS

Despite local implementation issues, Mayor Arnan assured the DepEd in his closing remarks that city mayors are supportive of the agency's learning continuity plan.

 

“Cities, despite limited financial resources, will be supportive of this learning continuity program because we have to ensure that our school children and the youth must continue to study,” he said. “They must continue to receive learning and skills. Otherwise, the damage, the harm that will be caused to them will have long term consequences.”

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