Binay vows to allocate ₱65B for subsidized education, scholarships

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) st standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay has vowed not to pinch pennies as president, especially in the sector of education.

A recurring promise of the opposition leader during his cam-

paign sorties this past week has been the allocation of a 65-billion fund to provide free uniforms, books and school supplies to the nearly 20 million public school students nationwide.

Joey Salgado, Binay’s campaign communications director, said that their envisioned education program will also include scholarships, student loans pro- grams, subsidies and other incentives to underprivileged students.

He said this is reminiscent of Binay’s programs in Makati when he was still city mayor.

“Vice President Binay believes and will always believe that education is the greatest social equalizer. Education helped the Vice President rise from adversity. He sees education as a key component in addressing poverty. For him, quality public education will be his legacy for our youth,” Salgado said.

He added that a Binay administration will complete the construction of at least 50,000 new classrooms in 2016.

Salgado said private partners like the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII), which used to help government build classrooms, will also be tapped.

Salgado added that part of the President’s Social Fund (PSF) can be utilized as counterpart funds for classroom construction, especially in rural areas without schools. Local government units (LGUs) will also be asked to use their special education funds for teacher hiring and classroom repairs.

Also included in the infrastructure program is the construction of laboratories and other facilities, as well as the establishment of Internet connectivity and facilities in all public schools.

Classroom facilities like water, electricity, and toilets will also be improved by a Binay administration, Salgado said.

The Vice President’s advertised willingness to spend is a counterpoint to the Aquino administration’s penchant to underspend. Binay said that underspending has hampered the government’s capacity to deliver basic services to the people.