PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gave assurances he would address the reduction of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) 2025 budget, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Sunday.
Last week, the bicameral conference committee approved a budget of P737 billion for DepEd, lower by P12 billion than the P748 billion approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Angara said in a statement on Sunday that “sadly, Congress cut the president’s proposed budget for the Department of Education, particularly P10 billion for computerization.”
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara. PHOTO BY MIKE ALQUINTO
But the president said he would try to remedy the situation, Angara said.
Rep. Rodge Gutierrez of the party-list 1-Rider justified the P10-billion cut in the DepEd’s computerization budget.
Gutierrez said “the Commission on Audit’s (COA) report found that in 2023, DepEd disbursed only P2.075 billion of its P11.36-billion budget for ICT equipment.
Investments
Angara has underscored the need for more investments in the country’s education sector.
Speaking at the World Bank Philippines Economic Update Development Dialogue, Angara stressed an urgent need for increased investment in Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) to ensure a brighter future for Filipino children.
“We need to invest more in the early years of our people to ensure every Filipino child born today has the chance to dream, learn, grow, and contribute to our nation’s progress,” he said.
Angara said strong early investments in human capital are essential for a forward-looking society.
“We must not fall short of nurturing human capital at the onset,” he said, adding that local government units (LGUs) play a vital role in implementing effective ECCD programs.
Citing a January 2024 United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) report, Angara pointed out that 78 percent of Filipino toddlers are not enrolled in early learning programs, while 90 percent of children in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao lack access to early education programs.
To address these gaps, he pointed out that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies, including the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to work together to provide comprehensive care for children.
For 2025, the ECCD Council received a 12 percent budget increase, with P277 million allocated for constructing more National Child Development Centers.
Additionally, the ECCD curriculum is being revamped to ensure a smooth transition to formal schooling for Filipino children.
Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano also called for increased investments in education, emphasizing its long-term impact on the nation’s development.
Alan Peter warned that the Philippines risks falling further behind its regional neighbors if education funding continues to lag.
Despite Filipino students and teachers excelling in international competitions, Cayetano noted the lack of overall financial support for the education sector.
He urged stronger partnerships between the government, private sector, and LGUs to address funding challenges and better support local universities and colleges.
He also called on the youth and the public to demand greater government prioritization of education.
Meanwhile, Pia said the P11.57 billion cut in DepEd, P26.91 billion in the Commission on Higher Education, and P641.38 million in the University of the Philippines in the 2025 General Appropriations Bill is unacceptable, pointing out its impact on millions of Filipinos who are already struggling to access quality healthcare and education.
“Health and education must always be our top priority if we are to build a stronger, more sustainable future for all. We must never compromise on our commitment to always put quality healthcare and education first for every Filipino,” she said.
“These reductions are a terrible step backward,” she added.
She vowed to continue advocating for the protection and enhancement of resources for these vital sectors, reiterating that they are the foundation of a sustainable and equitable society.
WITH PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
Be the first to comment