THE DEPARTMENT of Education said there will be a budget allocation for the possible expenses of schools participating in the pilot run of limited face-to-face classes.

According to Education Undersecretary Annalyn Sevilla, the fund is going to be given as part of the school’s maintenance and other operating expenses.

“Kahit wala pa po iyong pilot face-to-face implementation, nagbigay na po kami ng additional MOOE sa mga eskwelahan and that is for the school opening na nangyari nitong September. So meron na po silang additional MOOE na nasa kanila,” Sevilla said in a media briefing over the weekend.

“We will be monitoring and we are with the task force na mag-i-implement ng limited face-to-face (classes),” she added, noting the department will intervene to cover-up the expenses.

If additional funds are needed, Sevilla said the amount will be sourced from the contingency MOOE of the central office which was used for disasters and natural calamities before the pandemic.

“The secretary (Leonor Briones) has called on the regional directors and we asked them what are the additional needs that you are foreseeing or expecting, and they said all are well provided already,” Sevilla stressed.

“Kaya kami rito naghihintay lang kami ng result ng simulation and we will provide whatever their need. But evolving pa ito,” she added.

DepEd and the Department of Health signed a joint memorandum circular last Sept. 27 outlining the guidelines for the pilot implementation of F2F classes in 120 schools for two months.