Expand application and use of Special Education Fund

Iloilo City Rep. Jerry P. Treas has proposed a funding source for the creation of extension classes,
new teacher items and necessary contractual positions in public schools.
!xisting pro"isions of law negate the use of the #pecial !ducation $und to support creation of
extension classes and the needed teaching positions in public schools nationwide,% Treas pointed out.
To answer the funding needs of local go"ernment units in the promotion of public education, Treas
urged the passage of &' ()*+ which would expand the purpose and application of the #pecial !ducation
$und ,#!$-, amending for the purpose #ection *.* of Republic /ct 0o. .123, otherwise 4nown as the 56ocal
7o"ernment Code of 1))1.8
The #!$, noted Treas, was created by R./. .123 in order to augment the ability of local go"ernments
to increase the funding for public schools within their respecti"e 9urisdictions.
#ince its implementation, 67:s across the country ha"e used the additional collection of one percent
,1;- of the assessed "alue of real properties to help fund the "arious needs of the public schools, such as the
construction and repair of school buildings,% Treas said.
The Iloilo City lawma4er, howe"er, lamented that 67:s and the public schools of the country ha"e
been limited by the scope of the application of the #!$ under the existing pro"ision ,#ection *.*- of the 6ocal
7o"ernment Code which enumerates the allowed purposes where the collected funds could be used.
0umerous local go"ernments in the country, including my district, desperately need financial support
from the #!$ for the creation of extension classes, new teacher items and contractual positions, payment for
their allowances and salaries, and also for the purchase of motor "ehicles for the <epartment of !ducation
personnel,% Treas explained.
Regrettably, the existing law does not permit the #!$ to be used for the mentioned expenses,% he
added.
The proposed amended #ection *.* would now read as follows= #!C. *.*. Application of Proceeds
of the Additional One Percent SEF Tax. > The proceeds from the additional one percent ,1;- tax on real
property accruing to the #pecial !ducation $und ,#!$- shall be automatically released to the local school
boards? Pro"ided, That, in case of pro"inces, the proceeds shall be di"ided e@ually between the pro"incial and
municipal school boards= Pro"ided, howe"er, That the proceeds shall be allocated for the !#T/'6I#&A!0T
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T!/C&!R#, P:RC&/#! B$ ABTBR F!&IC6!# $BR <!P/RTA!0T B$ !<:C/TIB0 P!R#B00!6,
operation and maintenance of public schools, construction and repair of school buildings, facilities and
e@uipment, educational research, purchase of boo4s and periodicals, and sports de"elopment as determined
and appro"ed by the 6ocal #chool 'oard.%
&' ()*+ is now under consideration by the &ouse Committee on 6ocal 7o"ernment chaired by Rep.
Pedro '. /charon, Jr. ,1
st
<istrict, #outh Cotabato G 7eneral #antos City-. ,+3- dpt
NR # 3589B
SEPT. 14, 2014