MAYOR Sara Duterte-Carpio (R) speaks to members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Davao City in front of the city hall after last week’s flag-raising ceremony. — CARMENCITA A. CARILLO

DAVAO CITY Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has turned down the demand of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT)-Davao City Chapter for a P406 million annual subsidy from the local government, covering 11,959 teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd). The amount translates to a P2,000 monthly cash subsidy and P2,500 quarterly rice subsidy for the DepEd employees. “At this point it is impossible to allot P406 million to DepEd teaching and non-teaching personnel alone,” Ms Carpio said in a interview, noting that there is no basis in law for the local government unit to provide such assistance to national government employees, specifically the DepEd. The mayor also pointed out that subsidies to DepEd workers are likewise not allowed under the Special Education Fund. “But as I told them I am willing to find a win-win solution between their proposal and capacity of the city government. I explained that the city government employees don’t have allowances beyond what they receive as mandated by law and no rice subsidies too,” she said. The mayor asked the ACT officers to submit another proposal, but not P406 million which is “too high”, before the annual budget deadline on Oct. 15. ACT-Davao City President Reynaldo S. Pardillo, meanwhile, acknowledged that the mayor is correct in saying that the Special Education Fund cannot be used for subsidies. However, he said “the allowance can certainly be charged to the city’s General Fund like in the case of Quezon City and 21 other cities in the country.” Mr. Pardillo said they will submit another proposal and he is hoping to have a dialogue with the local officials to discuss what is “doable” for the city. — Carmencita A. Carillo

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