According to the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, basic public education is still largely the responsibility of the central government, delivered through the Department of Education (DepEd), notwithstanding the devolution of many basic services to LGUs. However, the local government units (LGUs) do provide supplementary funding support to public basic education because they have access to a sustainable source of financial resources that are earmarked for the basic education sub-sector, the Special Education Fund (SEF). The SEF comes from an additional one percent tax on real property that LGUs are mandated to impose and collect by virtue of Republic Act 7160 or otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.

          As the new normal way of learning is set to continue even amidst pandemic days, the local government units should continue to aid all schools by undertaking activities in support of the different programs conducted in school. They should pledge complete cooperation to encourage their constituents to support the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) to successfully deliver appropriate learning to all students. In this way, all school staffs, parents, and other stakeholders will be felt secured that even amid COVID-19 pandemic, all government officials are still willing to contribute their time, effort and resources just to ensure that all learners are ready to face a kind of challenging distance learning.

By: Norbeto A. Villafuerte | Teacher III | Cataning Elementary School | Balanga City, Bataan