Gov. Remulla shows concern over DepEd's budget in modular learning

Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla lamented on Monday the province’s lack of funds to support the modular teaching and learning process under the blended learning system to be implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Photo credit: mb.com.ph

In his facebook post, he addressed it to Education Secretary Leonor Briones saying that the local government of Cavite needs at least P5 billion for this modular type of learning. He further claimed that the budget would solely be shouldered by the province.

"Please correct me if I am wrong. Sa ilalim ng plano na modular teaching/learning process ng DepEd, para sa 600,000 na mag-aaral ng Cavite, ay kailangan namin maghanda ng P5 bilyon para maipatupad ito," Remulla said. 

(Please correct me if I am wrong. Under the modular teaching/learning process of DepEd plan for 600,000 students of Cavite, we need to prepare 5 billion pesos to implement it,)

"Ayon rin sa plano, ang DepEd national ay walang contribution para dito at ito ay 100% na papasanin ng LGU," he added. 

(According to the plan, DepEd national has no contribution to this and the budget will solely be shouldered 100% by the LGU,)

Remulla noted that Cavite only has a budget of P4.7 billion for 2020. Of this amount, P1 billion was already used for the province's efforts to curb COVID-19 infections while P2.1 billion was utilized for salaries and the operating budget of the province. 

He added that P1 billion was for hospitals. Aside from these, Cavite still has various programs for more or less 4.5 million residents.

The governor noted that more or less 100 schools would close in Cavite due to the health crisis. He also added that more students will be dependent on DepEd system this pandemic. "This is only in Cavite. How about those in far regions and cities which has lesser capabilities?" he said.

Remulla said the local government of Cavite would present its educational plan this week. 

"I am not a complainer. This week we will present our Cavite Educational Plan. It is our local solution to a national problem," Remulla said.

"It is unfortunate that at the time of COVID, every Filipino student can study but only the rich get to learn," he added. 

DepEd announced earlier that the start of classes will be on August 24 through blended learning. No face to face classes but lessons will not be limited to online platforms, according to education officials.