SENATOR Sonny Angara on Friday urged the Department of Education to expedite the procurement and release of connectivity load for teachers.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance said the connectivity budget has been released under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act and the 2021 General Appropriations Act.

Bayanihan 2 was enacted on September 11 last year and was supposed to expire on December 19.

However, Congress passed Republic Act 11519 extending the availability of appropriations until June 30 this year.

Under Bayanihan 2, P4 billion was allotted for the implementation of digital infrastructures and alternative learning modalities.

Angara said this could be a source of funding for internet connectivity for teachers.

While the law has been available since September 2020, Angara noted that the DepEd only recently obligated P2.506 billion or 62.6 percent of the P4 billion allocation.

However, only P32 million has been disbursed as of May 7, 2021 or a disbursement rate of 1.28 percent.

“Ang dami na natin nabalitaan tungkol sa mga guro na nahihirapan na sa kanilang budget dahil sila pa ang gumagastos para sa kanilang mga load. Dapat na mabigay na agad sa kanila ang load para sa data lalo na’t matagal na naman nandiyan ang budget para rito,” Angara said.

He said that there are also available funds under the 2021 GAA, particularly the maintenance and other operating expenditures and cash allowances of the DepEd that could also be tapped to help teachers with their connectivity requirements.

Angara said the DepEd also has P300 million under Bayanihan 2 for the provision of subsidies and allowances to qualified students that has yet to be obligated.

As of May 7, 2021, the DepEd has recorded a zero percent obligation rate for this particular item.