CEBU, Philippines - The more than 5,000 public school teachers in Cebu City have a reason to be happy today.
Mayor Michael Rama has ordered the release of their P10,000 cash assistance after Councilor Jose Daluz III, his representative to the local school board, informed him that releasing the financial aid is within the bounds of the law.
The city will be spending P50 million to grant the cash assistance which will be taken from the Special Education Fund (SEF).
The SEF is from the one percent of the total real property tax collections of a local government unit that shall be automatically released to the local school board.
The law provides that the proceeds of SEF shall be used for the construction and maintenance of public schools, buildings, purchase of facilities and equipment, education research, books, sports development as determined by the Local School Board.
But Daluz said the SEF can be also used for salaries and allowances of teachers. Daluz said there will be about P300 million left of the city’s SEF after the granting of the cash assistance today.
Teachers from the south district of Cebu City are advised to proceed to Labangon Elementary School this morning to collect their cash assistance while those teachers in north district are advised to proceed to Zapatera Elementary School in the afternoon.
The city is also expected to release the P10,000 additional bonus to each of the city regular and casual workers today, the last working day of the year. (FREEMAN)