The Department of Education (DepEd) clarified that the proposed budget for Special Education (SPED) for learners with disabilities (LWDs) was "excluded" from the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for the fiscal year 2023.

In a statement released on Monday, Sept. 19, DepEd explained that it initially proposed a budget of Php 532 million for SPED but it was "not considered" along with two other programs that were also excluded.

"This is a recurring circumstance every year, and DepEd is not at a loss because we always work with members of Congress to find other ways to fund DepEd programs," the statement reads.

The education department asserted in the past years, it always made efforts to ensure that the programs are supported.

The statement was released following the reports that the department intentionally had a zero budget for SPED programs.

During the budget hearing last week, Sept. 14, Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman probed the education department about its mandate for LWDs.

"For this year, DepEd has no budget for this [SPED]. We are just utilizing whatever is available funds for 2022. Moreover Madam Chair, we requested Php 560 million but in NEP, it is zero-budget," Education Undersecretary Ernesto Gaviola said.

DepEd proposed a total of Php 710.6 billion for its 2023 budget, a higher amount compared to Php 633.3 billion budget for 2022.