BACOLOD City — The Bacolod City Government has committed to distributing free school supplies before classes start in the next school year (SY).
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the current distribution, which began on September 17, will be completed within this week. The delay, he explained, was due to the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 12009, or the New Government Procurement Act of 2024, which modernized and improved the government procurement system.
Despite the setback, Gasataya assured residents that next year, the city will ensure supplies reach students prior to the opening of classes.
“The school supplies are ready, and we will add more depending on the availability of the budget. We are committed to providing for the needs of our students,” he said.
The free school supplies program is mandated under City Ordinance (CO) No. 09-16-787, which allocates P15 million annually for public elementary school students.
Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on education, said additional funds from the Special Education Fund (SEF) were used to accommodate 72,000 recipients, bringing the total budget to P32 million. The increase was necessary due to rising prices of school supplies.
A proposed ordinance to amend CO No. 09-16-787, authored by Councilor Caesar Distrito, seeks to raise the annual budget from P15 million to P50 million. The amendment aims to strengthen support for public education, address the growing number of enrollees, and account for rising costs of instructional materials.
The proposed measure also updates procurement guidelines in line with RA 12009, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and competitiveness. It mandates the creation of a committee to oversee procurement in coordination with the Department of Education and the Bids and Awards Committee, and sets a timetable to guarantee that supplies arrive on or before the start of classes./PN
