A SENATOR on Monday called for more mechanisms to boost transparency and accountability in the use of the Special Education Fund, which is meant to cover school building repairs, maintenance, and construction, after reports of the fund’s misuse and underspending.
In a statement, Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian called for a transparency board that would report on and oversee special education spending to ensure it is being used for its intended purpose.
He earlier filed Senate Bill No. 155, which would expand the use of the Special Education Fund to cover salaries and honoraria of teachers and non-teaching personnel in public schools.
Citing a study by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), underuse of the fund amounted to P15 billion from 2018 to 2022. The Bureau of Local Government Finance cited procurement issues and limitations on allowable use as factors in underutilization.
A 2023 Commission on Audit report also showed that millions of pesos meant for improving public education in Metro Manila have been improperly spent or underspent by several local government units. — John Victor D. Ordoñez