LCP organizes 2nd mentoring session for the City LEADERS Project

With continuing efforts to help cities prepare for senior high school implementation in 2016, the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) conducted a two-day Mentoring Session for the 10 Selected Cities last January 13 and 14 at Sequoia Hotel, Quezon City. The second mentoring session focused on budget planning to ensure that adequate financial resources are allocated for local senior high school programs.

“We will build nearly 30,000 classrooms this year for next year’s use. [This is the] first time for since World War II that DepEd is building for the future. We have always operated on deficit as far as building classrooms are concerned,” Mr. Elvin Ivan Uy, K-to-12 Coordinator of the Department of Education (DepEd), proudly shared with the city-participants while discussing DepEd Resources and Strategies for Senior High School.

Further, Mr. Uy reiterated the Department’s appeal for LGU assistance on securing lots for public high schools and filling up tech-voc workshops with facilities and equipment needed by the students. He also shared that higher income cities may opt to create “learner support mechanisms” such as transportation for students in far-flung areas, clothing subsidies, and food allowance to encourage more SHS enrollees.

LCP also tapped the expertise of Quezon City by sharing their experience on budget planning for senior high school. The city school board secretary, Ms. Susan Baetiong shared their budgeting process starting with identifying sources of fund for basic education, preparing the actual budget and creating mechanisms to support senior high school. Other innovative practices done by QC include the creation of an LSB Secretariat and a multi-stakeholder technical working group for senior high school.

During the panel discussion, Quezon City Administrator Mr. Aldrin Cuña recommended that for cities eyeing the private sector as partners, entering into joint venture agreements will be “easier and less demanding than PPPs.” He also shared that it is important for local chief executives to go beyond partisan politics when it comes to education as this ensures that goals and preparations will be effectively implemented.

Other members of the QC Experts Panel include City Budget Officer Ms. Marian Orayani and Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Helen Grace V. Go. Both emphasized that while QC has a lot of financial resources, the city still has to contend with the challenges of a growing population and a diminishing land area for additional school buildings.

Meanwhile, the second day of the session allowed the 10 selected cities to present their three-month action plans. Majority of the cities have already identified sources of funding. Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan of Catbalogan, Mayor Belen Fernandez of Dagupan, Mayor Agustin Ernesto Bascon of Himamaylan, and Mayor Sally Ante-Lee of Sorsogon have committed to provide financial support to their local senior high school programs particularly on land acquisition and additional classroom facilities.

By February, the City LEADERS Project Team will conduct its first monitoring session with the 10 selected cities. The team will also be bringing representatives of the QC SHS Experts Panel for additional inputs on planning, budgeting and other SHS-related initiatives.