THE FEDERATION of Associations of Private School Administrators (FAPSA) remains hopeful private school teachers in basic education will be included as beneficiaries of cash aid from the government.

President Duterte signed the Bayanihan to Recover as One or Bayanihan 2 to cushion the effects of Covid19 pandemic.

It provides for a stimulus package of P140 billion in regular appropriation and P25 billion as standby funding.

“And we are happy that it also allocates allowances to students in both private and public elementary schools, high schools, and colleges whose families were affected by work stoppage due to lockdowns, according to the news,” FAPSA president Eleazardo Kasilag said.

“The only thing we are most apprehensive about is the inclusion of FAPSA private school teachers and personnel. Kasama kaya kami? Sana naman po, that is our fervent prayers,” Kasilag added.

The FAPSA official noted the federation has revived its membership office to facilitate identify of beneficiaries and not to encumber the agency tasked for private school teachers’ subsidy.

“If we are lucky, it is our first time and we are willing to extend assistance to hasten the honest to goodness distribution and the government can vouch as to transparency and accuracy of our system,” Kasilag said.

He stressed private school teachers, too, are suffering from this pandemic.

“Honestly, since March when it all began, only a minimal pay had been allotted to our teachers and personnel since collection has not been paid and our other member schools have closed shop. Our school administrators may even be excluded but please, not our teachers and personnel,” he said.

“I hate to go comical but our teachers have been sapped waiting for SAP (Social Amelioration Program) that this time, we hope it’s not going to be zapped again.”