MANILA, March 14 (PNA) — The city government of Makati continues to invest heavily in the proper development of its youth, allocating around P2 billion for education services out of its P11.7-billion executive budget for 2014.
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said that of this year’s budget for education, around P1.3 billion has been earmarked for expenditures in the preschool to junior high school levels while at the tertiary level, P22.3 million has been allotted for the University of Makati’s various programs and activities.
He added that almost P8.9 million will be spent for youth and sports development, while P3.6 million will fund the city’s college scholarship programs at the University of the Philippines and the Philippine Normal University.
Binay pointed out that the P2-billion education fund does not include the budget for K to 12 Senior High School Program at UMak, estimated at around P23 million, as it is being funded under the Special Projects of the Office of the Mayor.
Just like students in the lower levels, Grades 11 and 12 students are also provided with free school supplies and uniforms by the city government.
Of its P1.3-billion budget for the preschool to secondary levels, P520 million will be spent for the purchase of textbooks, school supplies, bags, T-shirts, and uniforms that will be distributed for free to all enrollees when classes open in June.
The rest of the amount is distributed as follows: P419 million for building facilities development and maintenance program; P57 million for information communications and technology (ICTECH) program; P69 million for Acquisition of Complete Quality and Instructional Resources (ACQUIRE); P42 million for assessment and enrichment program; P17 million for instructional facilities development program; P14 million for health program; P5 million for Talent Optimization Program for Students; P1.2 million for Special Education Program; P7 million for Teachers’ Effectiveness and Competence Honing program; P1.1 million for Mathematical Challenge for Makati Kids Training Program/Robotics; P9 million for leadership training and sports development program for students; P1.2 million for exchange program/Lakbay Aral; and P1 million for Alternative Learning System (ALS).
At present, Makati has 28 public elementary schools, 10 public high schools, and a city-run university. Recently, Binay led the inauguration of the new 10-storey Makati Science building along Kalayaan Ave. in Barangay Cembo and four-storey Comembo and Pembo Elementary School Extensions. (PNA)