THE Mandaue City Government is eyeing to provide free school supplies to all students in 49 public schools starting in the next school year. This program, set to be funded through the City’s Special Education Fund (SEF), was announced by City Treasurer Regal Oliva during the forum “Storya Ta! A Move to Good Governance and Transparency” on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024.
The proposed SEF for 2025 is P700 million, according to Oliva, a lawyer. A total of P80 million from this fund will be allocated specifically for the distribution of free school supplies to all elementary and high school students enrolled in public schools across the city. Aside from the school supplies initiative, Oliva said P90 million from SEF will be allocated for the construction of new classrooms, P50 million installation of solar panels, P35 million for electricity needs, and P70 million for speech laboratories.
Mandaue City has 27 public elementary schools and 22 public high schools. The Mandaue City College will also get a chunk from the SEF, with P60 million set aside for the tertiary education institution. Proposed 2025 budget Oliva said the City’s proposed P700 million for SEF is included in the proposed P4.
5 billion budget for 2025. The proposed annual budget is an increase from this year’s budget of P4 billion. If approved by the City Council, the 2025 budget will also go to infrastructure projects and essential social services, including health.
Oliva said the City Government is not too focu.