CAVITE Fifth District Rep. Roy Loyola has filed a measure expanding the purpose and application of the Special Education Fund.

Loyola’s House Bill 10807 aims to amend Section 272 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.

The solon explained that under the Local Government Code of 1991, the Special Education Fund (SEF) is sourced from the additional levy of one percent of the assessed value of real property collected by local government.

It further mandated that SEF proceeds shall be used for the operation and maintenance of public schools, construction and repair of school buildings, facilities and equipment, educational research, purchase of books and periodicals, and sports development as determined and approved by the Local School Board.

In 2011, Loyola said the Philippine Institute for Development Studies assessed the application of the LGC and Republic Act No. 91553 and found that although not inconsistent with each other, the provisions of the said laws are not congruent with one another and that the mismatches cause confusion and in general, a lack of clarity in the implementation of both laws especially with respect to the utilization of the SEF.

Specifically, the study highlighted that the term operation and maintenance of public schools in Section 272 of the LGC is subject of varying interpretations which although gives local school boards flexibility to respond to actual needs at the level of the schools, it likewise blurs accountability considering that good expenditure assignment in fiscal decentralization requires clarity in the assignment of functions across levels of governments.

Meanwhile, the House Committee on Local Government undertook a review of the Local Government Code and among the provisions including the use of SEF.

As a result, the lawmaker is proposing the amendment of Section 272 by expanding the list of expenses where the proceeds of the fund may be used.

“By expanding the coverage of the SEF, we will be institutionalizing and advocating for the rights and due compensation of our education sector personnel and learners, to give our future workforce a robust, more responsive support and boost Filipino competitiveness in the global economy,” the lawmaker said.