Adopt-a-school tax breaks offered

A tax incentive of 150 percent is being given to companies or organizations supporting the Department of Education (DepEd)’s "adopt-a-school" program.

In a statement, the DepEd said yesterday the tax incentive is aimed at invigorating the program to help address the education system’s severe resource shortage.

After a company or organization has joined the adopt-a-school program, it can present receipts of its expenses to the Bureau of Internal Revenue so its application for a tax incentive can be endorsed, the statement added.

The tax incentive is provided under Republic Act 8525, which instituted the adopt-a-school program in 1998, to allow private entities to get more value for their money while supporting public schools.

The law was authored by House Deputy Majority Leader Eduardo Gullas of Cebu.

Director Aurora Felizardo of the adopt-a-school secretariat announced the tax incentive before she left with Education Secretary Jesli Lapus for an adopt-a-school gathering at Clark Field in Pampanga.

The tax incentive is available to business or corporate groups, non-government organizations, civil society and private institutions that seek to upgrade and modernize public elementary and secondary schools, especially those in the 20 poorest provinces, she added.

The DepEd said assistance may be given for faculty development, construction and upgrading of school facilities, provision of textbooks and other teaching materials, and the modernization of instructional technologies.

For a private entity, adopting a school means providing the necessary support in the areas of, but not limited to Infrastructure, teaching and skills development, learning support, computer and science laboratory equipment, and food and nutrition.

A tax incentive has been previously given to supporters of the DepEd’s "Brigada Eskwela," "Textbook Count Delivery" and "Sagip Eskwela" program.

Since it started in 2000, the DepEd’s adopt-a-school program has obtained a network of partners who have volunteered to oversee the needs of public schools. — Sandy Araneta