THE DEPARTMENT of Education listed the formation of a Public Financial Management reform program and the installation of the Education Program Management Office among its accomplishments under Secretary Leonor Briones.

Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla shared that DepEd is the only agency to create its financial management reform program and a program management office.

“Ito ‘yung gusto nating gawin at ito ang [ilan] sa [magagandang] itatransition [natin]. [Since] the Department has the highest number of programs, kailangan [iyan] i-manage [nang epektibo so] DBM approved the creation of Education Program Management Office,” Sevilla said, referring to the Department of Budget and Management.

Among the other remarkable accomplishments of the Finance Service Strand are the decentralized fund management, uninterrupted processing of salaries, allowances, and benefits amid lockdowns and the increased Budget Utilization Rate from 88 percent in 2016 to 96 percent in 2020.

She also cited the increased capitalization threshold of the Maintenance and Other Operation Expenses and Capital Outlay from P15,000 to P50,000 not only for DepEd but also for the whole government.

“Ang mga initiatives natin hindi pang-DepEd lang [kundi] para sa lahat,” Sevilla said.

She added that a new provident fund should be established by DepEd to cater to personal contributions and grant various employee-member benefits.

Currently, the PF provides teaching and non-teaching personnel benefits and loans for hospitalization, educational loans, minor house repair and other emergencies.

“What we are looking for is a Provident Fund na may employee-employer share at sariling health insurance policy aside than Philhealth. That is one proposal and recommendation we are already seeking approval from the Office of the President,” Sevilla said.

“Iba ang AO na nag-create ng provident fund natin. Pang-service fee lang. Kasi kung may employee contribution, [may] dibidendo [na] matatanggap kada end of the year, and that is the design of the new provident fund that we will transition to the next administration,” Sevilla explained.

Briones said that DepEd is determined to implement necessary financial policies to help all personnel fully recover from the Covid19 pandemic.