The Department of Education (DepEd) assured Thursday that it has been exploring collaborative measures with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Finance (DOF) in a bid to address funding gaps in the agency’s basic education programs.
DepEd said it aims to augment funding through unprogrammed appropriations and other constitutional mechanisms to support its key programs, including the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP).
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. signed Monday the 2025 General Appropriations Act, wherein the education sector received an allocation of P1.055 trillion—the highest share in the P6.326-trillion budget for this fiscal year.
Despite the education sector still getting the biggest budget allocation in 2025, Education Secretary Sonny Angara stressed the need for interagency cooperation to address funding gaps in some programs of DepEd.
Angara earlier lamented the P12-billion reduction in the DepEd budget for 2025, saying bulk of this amounting to P10 billion was supposed to be for the computerization program of the agency.
Specifically, he said his fellow Cabinet members, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, will play vital roles in securing additional funding for the agency.
“Education remains a top priority for this administration, and we will be working closely with the DBM and DOF to explore funding mechanisms that will enable us to deliver our mandate. Education is everyone’s business and we’re aiming for closer collaboration,” Angara said in a statement.
“DepEd remains hopeful that its partnership with government agencies and stakeholders will help address ongoing challenges and ensure that critical initiatives address the needs of Filipino learners,” he added.
The budget cuts in the DepEd were made despite a provision under the 1987 Constitution indicating that the State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to the education sector. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Be the first to comment