By Mae Singuay

The Bacolod City government is expected to distribute free school supplies to learners in all public elementary schools in the city in November.

According to councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on education, the city government has an available budget for the purchase of school supplies.

Espino said the Department of Education Division of Bacolod City proposed for the purchase of such items amounting to P38 million.

But he clarified that there is an existing city ordinance that governs the distribution of free school supplies to the amount of P15 million, that must be followed.

He added that the fund for free school supplies was sourced out from the general fund and the city government will now start with the procurement process, which by November it can be distributed.

In 2016, the SP passed an ordinance, which was authored by former city councilor Caesar Distrito, providing free educational materials to all students in public elementary schools in the city with an allocation of P15 million.

Recently, the SP passed a resolution urging for the expeditious procurement of school supplies for the school children in all public elementary schools following the opening of school year 2022-2023 and resumption of face-to-face classes./MS, WDJ