Philippine Local Leaders Urged to Utilize Special Education Fund for Teachers' Relief

Strategic Insights -

Philippine local leaders are being called upon to creatively utilize the Special Education Fund (SEF) to alleviate the difficulties faced by teachers in their respective communities. As the country observes National Teachers' Month in September, Quirino Governor Dax Cua, the president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), emphasized the importance of using SEF to provide timely interventions that benefit teachers. Cua proposed various programs, including additional allowances for teachers and health and wellness initiatives, to bring much-needed relief to educators.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) president and Quirino Governor Dax Cua has urged local leaders to utilize the Special Education Fund (SEF) to support teachers in their communities.
  • Cua emphasized that SEF is a 'powerful tool' to provide timely interventions that could benefit 'overworked and underpaid school teachers.'
  • Proposed programs for SEF utilization include providing additional allowances for teachers, procuring teaching materials, and offering health and wellness programs, including free annual physical exams (APE) and discounts on medical consultations, laboratory tests, and emergency services.
  • The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reported that SEF underutilization between 2018 and 2022 amounted to PHP15 billion in 2022, with the highest rate noted in cities at 57 percent.
  • Cua suggested that the national government could help less capable local governments on the technical side to maximize SEF utilization.
  • The SEF is taken from the additional 1 percent on real property tax that Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code allows local governments to impose and collect.

Statistics:

  • PHP15 billion - the amount of SEF underutilization reported by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) between 2018 and 2022.
  • 57 percent - the highest rate of SEF underutilization noted in cities between 2018 and 2022.
  • 1 percent - the portion of real property tax that is allocated to the Special Education Fund.

Sources:

  • "ULAP Pushes for SEF Utilization to Support Teachers," (Date not specified), news release quoted in the article.
  • Republic Act 7160, Local Government Code.
  • Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), report (2022).