THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced on Sunday the release of P6 million to pay for personnel salary and benefits of the regional campuses of Philippine Science High School (PSHS) in Caraga and Soccsksargen to improve access to quality education in the country.
Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said the funds will cover the Personnel Services requirements of at least 27 newly filled teaching and nonteaching positions. The new teachers and personnel were hired in June and September this year.
“In our bid to enhance the public school system, we’re not just putting up more schools and classrooms. We’re also making large investments in our teachers and school personnel. By giving enough budgetary support for their salaries, we’re able to look out for the welfare of our teaching and nonteaching staff in public schools, particularly in these two new PSHS campuses,” Abad said in a statement on Sunday.
He said of the P6-million fund release, P4 million was allocated for PSHS in Caraga, while P2 million was allocated for PSHS-Soccsksargen. Since the positions were not yet filled while the 2014 budget was being prepared, majority of the release was charged against the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund under the 2014 budget.
The PSHS, an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology, is a government school that gives scholarships to qualified students with special emphasis on science-based subjects. The goal is to prepare students for future careers in science and technology, engineering and mathematics.
The Senate is aiming to approve this week the proposed P2.606-trillion national budget for 2015 to be able to start the bicameral conference committee budget deliberation by early December.
The lawmakers are seeking to pass the General Appropriations Act of 2015 before the Christmas break this year.