Budget is in

1st sem budget to offset 2nd sem outlays, SDF down to 7.5%

By Lady Kim G. Aludo

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"Although the budget is in last December 2018, it is still insufficient to over all operating

expenses of the Institute.”

This was the statement of Administrative Officer V for Budget Mae R. Marquez after the Institute experienced a four-month budget crisis.

“Ang katong nadawat natung December, para na siya atong first sem pero unsa man atong gamiton karong second sem? So more or less, kato nga kwarta ang gamiton nato karon nga sem,” she explained.

Although Marquez refused to divulged the actual amount of budget given by the government, she added that the current budget scheme might be followed as “cycle”. The scheme entails the compensation of the succeeding school year’s expenses from the preceding semester’s budget.

“Mura man ta’g late billing, nahimotang nga nag-expense nata pero ang kwarta naa pa sa katapusan,” she justified.

Budget Utilization Priorities

Marquez stated that the budget allocation was prepared before the year ended through a projection of the amount of receivables for the first and second semesters.

However, she clarified, “Dili na gyud na siya actual, pwede na nga mas ubos pa jud ang actual nga kwarta or possible nga mas dako ang budget.”

Marquez said that the utilization of budget was agreed through a proper deliberation with the Administrative Council and Board of Trustees and that this projection will be the guide in corresponding allocations within this school year (SY).

”Utilities expense nato kay dako. Naa diha ang kuryente and dako og bulk ang salary sa atong part timers and contractuals,” Marquez added.

She also said that even the different colleges of the Institute were struggling to procure equipment due to budget deficiency.

Shared Expenses

According to CHED Memorandum – sdf Order (CMO), No.20, Series of 2011, Article 3, Section 6 on Budget Allocation for Instruction, the primary function of State Universities and Colleges (SUC) is instruction and shall be allocated a total of 50% of the actual tuition fees collected within the current calendar year (CY).

It was broken down into four 12.5% components, specifically, Faculty and Staff Development, Curriculum Development, Student Development and Facilities Development.

In connection to budget priorities, she confirmed that there will be a 5% reduction from the total 12.5% budget allocation for SDF (Student Development Fund) to meet certain budget shortage.

The 5% fraction from SDF will be added to Faculty and Staff Development Fund, making it a staggering 17.5% share.

In addition, according to Section 7 of CMO, the above percentage assigned to the components of instruction may be adjusted in accordance with the expenditure trends established in the preceding year.

“However, the adjustment resulting to reduction in the allocation of one or more component shall not fall below 7.5% in order not to unduly curtail developmental goals and regular operations therein,” the CMO reads.

BREAKDOWN OF THE REVISED BUDGET FOR INSTRUCTION | According to CHED Memorandum Order (CMO), No. 20, Series of 2011, Article 3, Section 6 on Budget Allocation for Instruction, the primary function of SUC's is instruction and shall be allocated a total of 50% of the actual tuition fees collected within the current Calendar Year (CY).

Marquez said that the chnge of components’ allocations were needed for the teachers who are studying their graduate programs, adding, “Naa’y corresponding expenses nga bug-at kaayo kay approved naman ang mga scholarships.”

She also stated that Faculty and Staff Development comprises the expenses for travels, trainings, communication allowances, representation and the salaries for contractual instructors.

“Sa Curriculum Development, diri pud gikuha ang sweldo sa part-timers. Then, para aware pud mo (students), gi-increase ang sweldo sa contractual,” she added.

Meanwhile, she said that the Student Assistant (SA) allowances consumed a great fraction from the SDF.

“Naa pud sa mga activities ninyo (students) and prizes (for the activities) but usually ang budget sa SA jud ang dako,” she said.

She also stated that a portion of the Facilities Development Fund was usually used for the yearly electricity expenses.

“Akong gi-target, kailangan ta mu-come up og almost P5M sa atong income. So, if asa man tong (component) nga naa’y sources, adto ta mukuha (budget), para ma-share pud ang expenses kay kuwang ra ang budget nga gihatag sa government nato,” she explained.

Marquez also added that there will be an estimated electrical consumption of P8M to 9M of the Institute as soon as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) building will function.

“Nangayo pud ko og share para sa janitorial kay nag-agency na to. Nakabantay mo, naa sa sila’y uniform? Lahi ra sa una kay per day, karon kay agency na man, dako na ang atong requirement,” she recalled.

She further expressed that the decision on the budget sharing solution was properly deliberated by the college deans and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA).

“I-share lang pud nato ang expenses kay maka-benefit man pud ta tanan. Mag-sacrifice lang jud pud ta,” she said.