FORMER Interior Secretary and senatorial candidate Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos, Jr. is advocating for an expansion of the allowable expenditures under the Special Education Fund to maximize the support local government units (LGUs) can provide to learners in their areas.

The SEF, derived from a provision in the Local Government Code, allows LGUs to collect an additional 1% on real property taxes to fund education-related expenses for public schools, helping to address the Department of Education’s budget challenges.

Abalos pointed out, however, that the policies governing SEF spending have limitations, which restrict the support LGUs can offer to students in cities and municipalities.

“The Special Education Fund is meant to support children’s education, but its usage is too limited,” Abalos explained, drawing on his experience as mayor of Mandaluyong City.

“For example, you can’t use the fund to buy school uniforms, which is often a major concern for families. They struggle with the cost of uniforms for their children,” he added.

By expanding the use of SEF, LGUs could also help cover other essential school supplies, such as notebooks, pencils, and bags, among others.

Abalos argued that if the scope of the SEF were broadened, more Filipino families could benefit, especially those in smaller cities, where school uniforms and learning materials are not always provided for free.

He emphasized that both the national and local governments need to adapt to modern challenges to ensure that Filipino learners receive the quality education they deserve. These challenges include the growing importance of digital technology, which LGUs could help provide to learners if the SEF were expanded.