Despite the adverse opinions of the Commission on Audit (COA) on Cebu City Hall’s spending, the Local School Board will consider extending another form of cash assistance to teachers.
“This year, we are contemplating (to give cash aid to the teachers). As long as there is available funds, the program is justifiable,” Asst. City Legal Officer Jose Daluz III said.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama ordered the release of P56.3 million sourced from the Special Education Fund (SEF) to be given as cash assistance to teachers during the Teachers’ Day celebration on December 2012.
The COA declared the cash assistance as “illegal” since it doesn’t have any legal basis and reminded the city government to refund the amount.
In their 2013 report, COA also questioned the use of P2.9 million from the SEF to fund various school activities and threatened to disallow the disbursement.
This included the P1.2 million spent on door prizes during the Teachers’ Day activity.
Another P2.7 million was spent for trainings. Payment to Asian Home Appliance that supplied the door prizes was made in January last year.
“Those were just observations. No suspension orders or disallowances were issued. They (COA) only want us to explain the distribution of the P10,000 cash assistance,” Daluz said.
Daluz, whom Rama designated as LSB head in his behalf, said once they submit the required documents, there won’t be a need for refund.
“But if they want to disallow then we will have to answer the disallowance before the proper venue,” he said.
Daluz disagrees with COA that disbursements made from the city’s SEF were not among the items to be funded from the SEF.
He said teachers are part of the operation and maintenance needs of public schools because “schools cannot stand alone.”
“They need teachers to operate. Teachers are part of the entire education system,” Daluz told reporters.