Lawmakers affirmed the Bicameral Conference Committee’s (bicam) decision to cut PHP 12 billion from the Department of Education’s (DepEd) allocated budget for 2025.
In a press conference on Monday, the lawmakers were asked about the DepEd’s budget for 2025. Per the bicam’s decision, they lowered the education sector’s budget, citing the inconsistencies in the sector’s utilization rate during Vice President (VP) Sara Duterte’s tenure as its Secretary.
The Education Sector’s Overall Budget Allocation
Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun noted that the education sector does not end with DepEd, but extends to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Considering all these, the education sector’s overall budget is still at par with other agencies.
“Kapag pinagsama-sama mo kasi yung budget ng DepEd, CHED, SUCs, TESDA, mas malaki pa din yung nilalaan ng ating pamahalaan sa edukasyon. Kaya kailangan tingnan natin ito in totality kung ano yung binibigyan ng pondo ng ating gobyerno,” Khonghun said.
Lawmakers also highlighted the DepEd’s utilization rate and said that the latter needs to explain their proposed programs before they grant the indicated amount from the department. Moreover, Khonghun stressed that they provided the budget needed for the computerization program in the past, but it was not executed properly.
“Pero pinondohan kasi natin ‘yan noong panahon na ang Secretary ng DepEd [ay] si Vice President Sara Duterte. Nakita naman natin yung mga nangyayari, ang daming mga laptops na nasa warehouses pa—na actually hindi pa na dedeliver,” the lawmaker said.
“Kailangan i-explain muna nila yung mga programa, kung paano ginagamit yung ibinibigay sa kanila na pera ng ating pamahalaan. Kasi hindi naman pwede na bigay na lang tayo ng bigay, na hindi naman nila na-account kung papano nila ginamit yung pondo,” he added.
He assured that education is one of the most crucial sectors for the government, adding that it still has the highest budget allocation from the government.
Upholding Transparency
Meanwhile, La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega said that they are confident with former Senator and education Secretary Sonny Angara's capabilities; adding that the allotted budget will be responsive enough for him to address the needs of the education sector.
“Nung pagka assume pa lang niya sa continuation ng budget briefings noon, he was able to address most of our questions. So again, we are confident that the budget given to the DepEd is very responsive, and it will be very responsive sa mga needs ng ating mga students, sa ating mga teachers, at sa ating pangangailan,” Ortega said.
Aside from that, Khonghun also emphasized that they want the education sector’s utilization rate to improve, before granting additional funding. Based on the Commission on Audit’s (COA) report, the DepEd disbursed PHP 2.75 billion out of the PHP 11.36 billion funding for the proposed ICT equipment in 2023.
“Nung nakaraang panahon, naging notorious ang DepEd sa pagiging delay nila sa kanilang mga procurement. Lalong-lalo na yung pag-uphold nila ng transparency and accountability,” Khonghun said.
Last Thursday, Angara lamented the budget cut for the DepEd’s proposed computerization program for 2025, stating the importance of investing in people and human capital.
