Lawmakers use ‘pork’ for new high schools

Senior House leaders have agreed to use a portion of their public works entitlements to address the acute shortage of high schools nationwide caused by a severe lack of funds, Speaker Jose de Venecia announced.

"We are looking at a combination of funds from the national budget, public works entitlements, and a possible availment of a portion of the school fund," De Venecia said during a key meeting yesterday morning between a seven-man House panel and a three-man Senate team led by Senate President Franklin Drilon.

De Venecia said both panels reached agreement to push for Senate approval of local bills the House will classify as "priority measures," especially those bills creating national high schools.

De Venecia assigned Marinduque Rep. Edmund Reyes Jr. to initiate consultation with House members and complete the list of priority bills before Congress adjourns on June 5.

Reyes, who chairs the House committee on basic education, said education is "the only way out of poverty for our people — and we need a massive and dedicated infusion of funds for our people’s education."

The use of public works entitlements came up during the meeting as the two panels identified possible funding sources, including tapping the school fund available in cities and provinces to partly fund the high schools.

De Venecia said "most schools are three or four kilometers away from the nearest barangay. We have to make the schools more accessible to thousands of Filipino youths in far-flung barangays nationwide."