The city government here has allocated PHP680 million for the 2026 special education fund, with PHP398 million going to the capital outlay.

Special Assistant to the City Mayor Maria Mathilde Treñas, in an interview on Tuesday, said the miscellaneous and other operating expenses were apportioned PHP225 million, while the other funds are intended for personnel services.

The capital outlay will be for the repair and construction of classrooms and laboratories.

A portion of the allocation will be used for the establishment of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centers in Barangays Cubay and Mansaya.

Treñas said the ECCD is a two-story building, with the ground floor for daycare children and the second floor for the library.

She said the budget for the SEF was boosted by the increase in Real Property Tax (RPT), although they only retained their 2025 budget worth PHP680 million.

The SEF comes from 1 percent of the RPT.

“Our budget is as is, but there will be a succeeding supplemental budget after the quarterly payment of the RPT,” she added.

Before, she said the budget was only around PHP450 million, with the highest around PHP500 million.

“The increase in RPT boosted the fund for our Local School Board,” she said.

Other than the capital outlay, the SEF also financed the utilities like electricity, water and internet.

The city government has also hired 50 contractual teachers, with Salary Grade 12, and paid from the SEF.

Meanwhile, she said Mayor Raisa Treñas has been visiting schools to look into their priority needs.

“We require schools to submit their priority project and ask them their classroom needs. The mayor does not want to waste our budget,” she said.

The budget was approved by the local school board during its meeting on Tuesday. (PNA)