ILOILO CITY — More than 74,000 public school learners from Kindergarten to Grade 12 will receive free school supplies from the Iloilo City Government this June, timed to ease the financial burden of families as classes begin. Mayor Raisa S. Treñas announced the rollout under the Iloilo City ISKUL program, which stands for Initiative to Share Kits that Uplift Learners. The distribution is set for the first week of June.
The program is funded through the Special Education Fund, with additional support from the city's recently approved ₱1.4‑billion supplemental budget. The Iloilo City School Board approved a total allocation of ₱8.5 million for the initiative. Mayor Treñas said the city government decided to restore the free school supplies program after recognizing the financial challenges faced by many parents amid the ongoing energy crisis.
A Direct Response to Parental Hardship
"Because of this crisis, na‑identify gid naton kon sin‑o ang affected—ang mga ginikanan," Treñas said, switching to Hiligaynon to address the core of the problem. She emphasized that even modest assistance carries significant weight for households with multiple children. "Bisan gamay lang, kung may tatlo ukon lima ka bata ang isa ka pamilya, dako na ini nga bulig kag mapagaan ang ila gastos sa pagbukas sang klase."
The ISKUL program operates as part of the city's broader commitment to accessible education. The Special Education Fund, which draws a mandated share from real property tax collections, has grown substantially alongside the city's property boom. What families receive in school supplies this June is, in effect, a direct dividend of Iloilo City's record‑setting real estate absorption. The ₱8.5‑million allocation ensures that notebooks, pens, paper, and other essentials reach students before the first bell rings.
A City That Channels Growth Into Classrooms
The free school supplies initiative complements the city's larger education infrastructure push. Earlier this year, the city allocated funds to repair and construct classrooms across 51 campuses, with school principals identifying their own priority projects. The city also signed a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Education to build additional classrooms aimed at eliminating shifting schedules.
The ISKUL distribution forms part of a fiscal architecture that links the city's economic growth directly to student welfare. For the parents who will receive the supply kits in the first week of June, the program represents more than savings—it represents a city government that has identified their burden and responded with concrete, timely assistance.
