DepEd thanks House for approving P975.96-B budget for 2027

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) thanked the House of Representatives for approving its proposed P975.96 billion budget for 2027, which accounts for 13.55 percent of the P7.2-trillion national budget.

“We deeply appreciate the House of Representatives’ strong commitment to education and the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in advancing the country’s education agenda. This support will help us protect learners, support teachers, accelerate learning recovery, and improve learning outcomes across the country,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a DepEd statement on Tuesday.

Angara also expressed his appreciation for budget sponsor Davao de Oro 1st District Rep. Maria Carmen S. Zamora.

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According to the DepEd statement, the House members stressed the need to increase the department’s budget to support its priority programs, including those on school security, mental health support, learning recovery, hiring and promotion of teachers, and classroom construction — which were not included in the original National Expenditure Program.

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The call for a stronger school security program became stronger after the shooting incident at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.

DepEd asked for additional allocations for physical security measures — such as security personnel, metal detectors, and school fences — and for the implementation of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, which calls for hiring school counselor associates and support staff.

“Schools must be sacred, safe spaces where parents feel confident sending their children every day. With these additional resources, we can establish the necessary physical safeguards and psychosocial support systems to ensure peace of mind across all our campuses,” Angara said.

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Angara stressed the importance of maintaining the momentum for basic education recovery, particularly through the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program.

As he pointed out, the ARAL Program helped reduce the number of students who had difficulty in reading, from the previous 6.7 million to 2.2 million in the current school year.

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The additional funding that DepEd asked for will help support that program, as well as efforts to hire and promote teachers and support staff, repair and build classrooms, strengthen the safety and security of schools, and implement specialized programs, such as Special Needs Education (SNEd), Madrasah, and Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd).

“The more resources we have, the more we can do for our schools, teachers, and students,” Angara said in Filipino.

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“Along with this, we will make sure all the funds will bring about a quick, clear, and meaningful change in education and the lives of each Filipino,” he added. /atm