Makati continues to invest heavily in youth education by allocating P2 billion, said Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay as he explained that this would come from the P11.7-billion executive budget for 2014.
Of the P2 billion, P1.3 billion is for preschool to junior high school levels and P22.3 million for the tertiary level allotted for the University of Makati’s various programs and activities.
Almost P8.9 million will be spent for youth and sports development, while P3.6 million for the city’s college scholarship programs at the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Philippine Normal University (PNU).
Binay pointed out that the P2-billion budget does not include the budget for K to 12 Senior High School Program at UMak, estimated at around P23 million, as it is being funded under the Special Projects of the Office of the Mayor.
Grades 11 and 12 students are also provided free school supplies and uniforms by the city government.
Of its P1.3-billion budget for the preschool to secondary levels, P520 million will be spent for the purchase of textbooks, school supplies, bags, t-shirts, and uniforms that will be distributed for free to all enrollees when classes open in June.
The rest are distributed as follows: P419 million for the building facilities development and maintenance program; P57 million for information communication & technology (ICTECH) program; P69 million for Acquisition of Complete Quality and Instructional Resources (ACQUIRE), P42 million for assessment and enrichment program; P17 million for instructional facilities development program, P14 million for health program, P5 million for Talent Optimization Program for Students; P1.2 million for Special Education Program; P7 million for Teachers Effectiveness and Competence Honing program; P1.1 million for Mathematical Challenge for Makati Kids Training Program/Robotics; P9 million for leadership training and sports development program for students; P1.2 million for exchange program/Lakbay Aral; and P1 million for Alternative Learning System (ALS).
At present, Makati has 28 public elementary schools, 10 public high schools, and a city-run university.
Recently, Binay led the inauguration of the new 10-storey Makati Science building along Kalayaan Avenue in Barangay Cembo and four-story Comembo and Pembo Elementary School Extensions. RITCHIE A. HORARIO