By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE administration says it will restore the $2 million it cut from the Public School System’s budget in fiscal year 2006, but it will not be a one-time quarter allotment as requested by PSS.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. yesterday said payments will be made throughout fiscal year 2007 which will end on Sept. 30.
“It is true that $2 million did not get into the PSS budget for 2006,” he said. “However, it was agreed that the amount will be restored in 2007 — not in a lump sum payment but spread over the whole (fiscal) year or until September.”
Reyes said a “compromise” was reached by the governor and education officials during a meeting last year.
In fiscal year 2006, PSS was allocated $37.2 million but received only $35.2 million.
“I don’t think we can afford a $2 million allotment in one quarter for PSS because that’s a lot of money,” Reyes said. “They have to understand the current financial situation of the government.
BOE Chairman Roman C. Benavente and Education Commissioner David M. Borja are seeking written confirmation of the governor’s commitment to pay back the $2 million.
They said the Office of Management and Budget has reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to restore the amount owed to PSS.
But, they added, OMB does not want PSS to spend any savings from the government’s austerity holidays.
Benavente and Borja, in their Jan. 12 letter to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, stated that the $2 million cut will result in a deficit for PSS.
They said the U.S. Department of Education may place PSS on high-risk status if the money is not returned by the administration.