The city government of Makati has distributed P5,000 in educational assistance to each of 557 public elementary and high school students enrolled under the city's Special Education program for school year 2017-2018.
Mayor Abigail Binay said the initiative was in line with the commitment of the city government to promote the development of special children through providing them every possible assistance to address their needs.
“The city government keeps on finding ways to help nurture their potential talents and abilities so that they would become self-sufficient and productive members of society,” she said.
According to the city's Department of Education, all SPED learners who were enrolled as of June 30, 2017 are entitled to the P5,000 educational assistance from the city government.
From Oct. 3 to 5, paymasters from City Hall went to the SPED classes and distributed the cash assistance to qualified recipients, which include 111 SPED learners from Nemesio Yabut Elementary School, 24 from San Antonio National High School, 50 from Fort Bonifacio High School, and 25 from Gen. Pio del Pilar National High School.
Last Oct. 4, the distribution of the said educational assistance was done in Gen. Pio del Pilar Elementary School (Main) with 150 qualified SPED learners, Palanan Elementary School with 27, and Pembo Elementary School, 94.
The next batch of recipients scheduled last Oct. 5 consisted of 36 SPED learners from F. Benitez Elementary School (Main), 16 from Makati Elementary School, and 24 from Tibagan High School.
In 2015, the city government through City Ordinance No. 2015-015 increased the monthly allowance of SPED teachers in Makati from P1,500 to P4,000, in recognition of their indispensable role in the overall development of SPED learners.
At present, 39 teachers are assigned to handle SPED classes offered in 10 public schools of the city.
Mayor Binay said education has remained one of the top priorities of her administration, with a total budget allocation of P1.56 billion for the year to fund programs, services and innovations to be implemented across all levels in the city’s public schools.