DepEd ups SPED centers subsidy

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines  â€” The Department of Education (DepEd) has increased the budget allocation for school year (SY) 2013-2014 for Special Education (SPED) centers in the elementary level all over the country from the current P115 million to P180 million or by more than 50 percent.

This was announced by Education Secretary Armin Luistro in an order he issued recently and received here by DepEd Region 9 (Western Mindanao) Director Walter Albos.

Luistro said the number of SPED centers operated nationwide by DepEd was also raised from 276 in school year (SY) 2011-2012 to 345 in SY 2012-2013 which closed late month.

“We believe that special grade school children deserve special attention and specialized learning tools thus the increase in funding support,” he explained.

The financial subsidy for each SPED center totals P500,000 annually to sustain the implementation of its programs, projects and activities, Luistro said, adding that DepEd has also earmarked P42,000 per school division and P40,000 per regional office “to monitor the enforcement of programs for children with special needs and to keep track of the efficient utilization of SPED funds.”