Marcos ‘working’ to restore P12 billion in DepEd’s 2025 budget

MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday, December 16, that his administration is working to restore the P12 billion that was cut from the 2025 budget of the Department of Education (DepEd).

“We’re working on it to make sure that we will restore it. I do not want to line-item veto anything because that just gets in the way. So we’re still talking about it and trying to find a way,” Marcos said.

On Thursday, December 12, Education Secretary Sonny Angara decried the budget cut of P10 billion in the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP), saying that it would widen the digital divide among students.

“That could have funded thousands of computers/gadgets for our public school children,” Angara also said.

The DCP is an annual initiative of the department aimed at improving access to technology by thousands of public schools across the Philippines, empowering them to “meet the challenges of the 21st century.”

The DepEd saw a P12-billion cut in its 2025 budget after the bicameral conference last week, reducing its allocation to P737 billion from the President’s proposed P748.65 billion. In contrast, the Department of Public Works and Highways received nearly P289 billion more, raising its total allocation to a record P1.1 trillion.

Article XIV, Section 5, Paragraph 5, of the Constitution states, “The State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.”

“I think we’ll still be able to do it, to be able to do something…. I’ll tell you, we’re working on it. And it’s something we really need,” Marcos said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“P12 billion is only sufficient to maintain what we’re already doing, when in fact we have to do more. So there you go, we have to figure that out,” he added.

Angara, who chaired the finance committee during his time as senator, expressed disappointment over Congress’ decision to cut the DepEd budget. He noted that in previous years, lawmakers had increased the funds for the education sector.

Lawmakers defended their decision, saying that they also considered how the DepEd has been using its funds. (READ: Bicam members defend massive budget cuts for DepEd, PhilHealth amid criticisms)

Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the finance committee, said the proposed 2025 budget “went through an exhaustive process, and [was] approved by majority members of both the Senate and the House.”

“We reiterate that the education sector remains a priority, as we have increased the budget for students and teachers. We fully recognize the President’s prerogative over the budget,” she said. – Rappler.com