It is a common knowledge that public school teachers cannot avoid paying some expenses or buying other necessities in order to make the delivery of education as smooth as possible.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones urged all teachers to report expenses shelled out from their own personal money that should have been covered by the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOEE).
“You are not compelled na gumastos, to buy things na nasa MOOE na. I suggest you report na gumastos kayo,” Briones said.
In 2018, the Department of Education (DepEd) plans to increase MOOE in order to raise the capacity of schools to provide the necessary supplies, support learning programs and maintain a safe and healthy environment for both teachers and students. Briones issued the reminder in regard to the concern on personal spending of public school teachers.
The fund was created to prevent out-of-pocket expenses of teachers. Next year, the MOOE may be increased up to Php347.723 million, and also aims to pay for the teachers’ annual physical exam (APE).
According to DepEd Order No. 13, s.2016, the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses is allocated annually to public schools nationwide to be utilized for the following:
• Procure school supplies and other consumables for teachers and students deemed necessary in the conduct of classes;
• Pay for reproduction of teacher-made activity sheets or exercises downloaded from the Learning Resource Management and Development System (LDRMS);
• Fund minor repairs of facilities, building and grounds maintenance, and upkeep of school;
• Fund rental and minor repairs of tools and equipment deemed necessary for the conduct of teaching and learning activities;
• Pay for wages of full-time janitorial, transportation/mobility and security services;
• Pay for school utilities (electricity and water) and communication (telephone and Internet connectivity) expenses;
• Support expenses for school-based training and activities selected or designed to improve learning outcomes, such as but not limited to, Learning Action Cells (LAC) and Continuous Improvement (CI) sessions;
• Support special curricular programs (e.g. advocacy, assessment, capacity building, learning environment, learner development, and research);
• Fund activities as identified in the approved School Improvement Plan (SIP) for implementation in the current year and as specifically determined in the Annual Implementation Plan (AIP) of the school;
• Finance expenses pertaining to graduation rites, moving up or closing ceremonies and recognition activities; and
• Procure small capital expenditure items worth P15,000 and below, as provided in the new Government Accounting Manual issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) and subject to separate guidelines to be issued by DepEd.
“We have learned that there are some teachers who are spending for the things that their schools need and charge it to their salary; hence, it affects their take home pay. If you know any teachers who are doing this, please tell them to stop because we have funds for school needs,” says Undersecretary for Finance-Budget and Performance Monitoring Annalyn Sevilla.
Source: Philippine Information Agency
