Science High gets reprieve from VECO

CEBU, Philippines — Students and teachers of the Cebu City National Science High School can heave a sigh of relief after the Visayan Electric Company (VECO) deferred the disconnection of its electricity yesterday.

Even if the school did not settle its P369,984.23 bill for the past three months, classes went on yesterday since Veco agreed to wait for the school to settle its dues because the Department of Education-Cebu City division office and the city government expressed intent to assist the school.

“We are trying to discuss the possibility of settling down so that the services will not be affected because we don’t like to disrupt the instruction in the use of gadgets and other technologies that would enhance the teaching learning,” CCNSHS Principal Evelyn Pielago said.

In a statement, Veco said the school has a total of five accounts amounting to P544,249.69.

Last Monday was supposedly the day of the disconnection of the school but the management signed a promissory note stating that it will settle P369,984.23 of the unpaid dues within 24 hours.

“In the case of  CCNSHS, VECO has allowed them not to pay the required 50% upon filing of the pay plan since the school representative, a certain Ms. Valboten, said that the school will pay the full amount by June 29,” read a portion of the statement.

VECO will disconnect the school’s electric service if it will not settle its dues next week.

DepEd Cebu City Assistant Superintendent Danilo Gudelosao met with the management of CCNSHS yesterday to resolve the looming disconnection.

“We will help Science High School. Mangita ta og paagi nga mas masulbad ni ilang problema. Ang Division office dili maka-promise nga sa tanang higayon kay ang MOOE is intended for all schools. Mangita mi og paagi nga dili sila maputlan,” he said.

Pielago said the school has increased its electricity consumption because of its efforts in upgrading its technology to cater to the demands of the 21st century learners and for the implementation of the K-12 program.

She said the school will also ask VECO for an inspection to check if there are illegal tapping of electric service from the residents near the school because of the increasing amount of their monthly electricity bill.

Supposedly, each school has an allocated Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) to finance the bills for water, telephone, electricity, janitorial, office supplies, trainings and seminars, among others.

Pielago said the school only has P95,000 monthly MOOE which is not enough to pay for the electricity bills which is over P100,000 per month.

The last payment done was January 23, 2018 amounting to P191,720.93 by the Department of Education Cebu City Division Office.

“We are hoping that the city government will give us the subsidy because for many years, the city government is the one paying everything,” Pielago said.

Sought for comment, City Councilor Joy Augustus Young said the city government is always willing to assist the schools on this matter.

Young was the one who asked VECO to defer the disconnection last Tuesday.

“Willing gyod ang city government motabang ana but sulbaron usa ang tanang issues. Let’s say the city willing mohatag og remedial nga measure. Temporary, let’s say this year, mangita mi og budget,” he said.

In the previous years, he said the city government has been the one paying for the bills of all public schools until it was disallowed by the Commission on Audit.

Young said he talked to someone from the COA yesterday about the city’s plan to pay for the bills of CCNSHS. — GAN (FREEMAN)