Vico Sotto: Pasig to Waive Regulatory Fees for Private Schools

The Pasig City government is waiving all regulatory fees for private schools until face-to-face classes resume to ease the financial toll on educational institutions and students during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Vico Sotto said.

The waiver applies to basic, secondary, tertiary, and postgraduate levels in the city. However, they must still renew their permits

“We know private schools are having a difficult time too, and some are in danger of closing. Many of their students can't afford tuition anymore. This puts our public school system in danger of overcrowding,” Mayo Vico Sotto said in a Facebook post.

The city’s scholarship fund will be extended to cover 3,000 indigent private school students, Sotto said, adding, "The schools will help us identify the beneficiaries."

Schools have been closed since March to prevent more COVID-19 infections, and will only reopen once a vaccine or cure is found. The Department of Education earlier moved opening of classes from Aug. 24 to Oct. 5 to buy schools more time to prepare modules, lessons, and equipment needed for blended and remote learning.