The GSIS,
however, discontinued the grant of PRF due to non-observance of certain
procedures and deficiency in requirements that caused delays and expensive
operations. It reached a point when the PRF was no longer included in the
General Appropriations Act.
As a result, schools
that have damaged school buildings have lined up for assistance instead from
the School Building Program of the DepEd or have explored other fund sources
such as the PDAF or the Calamity Fund.
Usec Bacani, in his
letter, urged the RDC5 to spearhead moves for Congress to reactivate the PRF
or to introduce a similar program to secure school buildings.
Rebecca
Olayon, DBM5 Director, in a separate letter to the RDC confirmed that the
GAA has included appropriations for the PRF from CY 1982 to CY 2000 only
and that Congress has not reactivated the PRF nor introduced a similar
program. Since the DepEd will have to charge school building
insurance from its regular
appropriations, this would entail substantial amount of expenses.
Olayon likewise called
on the RDC5 to initiate favorable course of action for Congress to include
in the GAA amounts for the insurance cost of all government buildings and
properties.
RDC Chair Joey Salceda
said that such recommendation should be passed not only to Congress but to
all national government agencies as well. He advised agencies to always
provide insurance costs in their annual budgets during the budget call.
