The city government of Bacolod is planning to raise its budget for free school supplies from ₱15 million to ₱50 million to help more students in public elementary schools.
The City Council, led by Councilor Caesar Distrito, wants to change an old law to make sure students get more complete and better-quality school materials. These may include notebooks, pad paper, pencils, erasers, rulers, sharpeners, folders, and pencil cases. If the budget allows, school bags and uniforms may also be given for free.
“This law shows we care about education,” Distrito said. He also mentioned that the new version of the ordinance will fix past problems like delays and small budgets.
The city will follow new and more transparent rules when buying supplies. A special team will work with the Department of Education to make sure everything is ready before classes begin.
If the usual budget is not enough, they may use the Special Education Fund, as long as it is approved by the Local School Board.
Distrito said the goal is to help families save money and make sure no student is left behind just because they can’t afford school supplies.
The plan is still being studied and will go through more discussions before it becomes final.
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