COTABATO CITY, Nov. 23 (PNA) – Public school students and teachers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will benefit most from the funds released by the Department of Budget and Management through the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF), regional education and budget officials said Sunday.
About PhP775.5 million had been downloaded to the regional government of the ARMM as part of the government’s efforts to improve education in the country’s poorest region.
Regional Education Secretary Jamar Kulayan quoted Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad as saying that most of the funds will be used for school building construction.
The Department of Public Works and Highways-ARMM will implement the projects ahead of the coming of the proposed Bangsamoro autonomous political entity.
Kulayan said priorities in building construction are schools that were destroyed by calamities and those that are obviously dilapidated. Also among the priorities are schools whose enrollees have dramatically increased.
Abad said it was the third time his office has released funds in support of the reform programs implemented in the regional government.
Both Kulayan and Abad said also in the priority list are schools in flooded areas and in conflict communities. (PNA)