Bacolod seeks PHP50M boost for free school supplies

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — To address rising enrollment and the increasing cost of educational materials, the Bacolod City Council is pushing to increase the annual budget for free school supplies from PHP15 million to PHP50 million.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) recently approved on first reading a proposed amendment to City Ordinance No. 09-16-787, authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, which mandates the provision of free school supplies to all public elementary school students in the city.

The revised ordinance expands the definition of “school supplies” to include notebooks, folders, writing tools, rulers, erasers, pad paper, sharpeners, and pencil cases.

Depending on available funding, it may also cover school bags and physical education (PE) and school uniforms.

“This ordinance reinforces our commitment to accessible and quality education,” Distrito said in a statement.

He noted that the measure seeks to address previous issues related to insufficient funding and delayed distribution.

To streamline the procurement process, the ordinance aligns with Republic Act No. 12009, the newly enacted Government Procurement Act, which repeals RA 9184.

The updated law ensures that procurement follows improved standards of transparency, efficiency, and competitiveness.

The ordinance also calls for the formation of a procurement committee in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the city’s Bids and Awards Committee.

The committee is tasked with ensuring the delivery of school supplies on or before the opening week of classes.

When regular funds fall short, the ordinance permits the use of the Special Education Fund (SEF), subject to approval by the Local School Board.

“This is a concrete step toward reducing the financial burden on families and empowering young learners across Bacolod City,” Distrito said.

“Education should never be hindered by lack of resources,” he added.

The proposed measure is set to undergo further deliberation before final approval.

The distribution of PHP29 million worth of school supplies to public elementary students was originally scheduled for the start of classes on June 16.

However, amendments to Republic Act 9184 led to unexpected delays, and no new distribution date has been announced amid the ongoing school year.

Mayor Alfredo “Greg” Gasataya has committed to ensuring timely distribution of supplies in the next school year.

He has directed the City Budget Officer and City Treasurer to begin early preparations for the proposed allocation.

Last year, more than 72,000 public school pupils from kindergarten to Grade 6 in 44 schools received PHP30 million worth of free school supplies in August under the same initiative.