DepEd eyes P585.2-B budget for 2018

MANILA, Philippines -  The Duterte administration has proposed a budget of P585.2 billion for the Department of Education (DepEd) next year, eight percent higher than its present allocation of P543.19 billion.

During a press conference last Tuesday, DepEd officials said their proposed 2018 budget is the highest in the history of the department. It is also the highest among all government agencies, as mandated under the Constitution.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the proposed budget would cover expansion of inclusive education programs and strengthening of partnerships and linkages.

The allocation will also be used to provide basic resources to support the curriculum needs, including funding to hire new teachers, construct new classrooms and procure equipment and learning materials for the students.

“Education must continue in an inclusive and nurturing environment,” Briones said.

“Amid and despite circumstances that render this impossible, we must be able to deliver quality education, especially when confronted with natural calamities or man-made disasters,” she added.

Based on the budget proposal submitted to Congress, more than P126.3 billion is proposed to be allocated for the basic education facilities program, which funds the construction and repair of school buildings.

It will also be used for site validation and engineering overhead expenses, electrification of on-grid sites and acquisition of school furniture.

The DepEd targets the construction of almost 47,000 classrooms next year, procurement of more than 81,000 school sets and electrification of more than 2,398 schools.

Meanwhile, the government intends to allocate P42 billion to hire 81,100 more teachers for public kindergarten, elementary and high schools. More than half of the target new hires will be for pre-school and elementary levels.

Other big-ticket projects of the DepEd include its computerization program (P8.65 billion), acquisition of learning tools and equipment (P7.8 billion), school-based feeding program (P5.3 billion) and development programs for teachers and other DepEd personnel (P3.78 billion).

Voucher program continues

The DepEd likewise said it would continue with the implementation of the financial assistance program for students in private schools.

Under the proposed budget, a total of P39.3 billion will be allotted to the government assistance and subsidy program, which includes the education service contracting program for junior high schools and the voucher program for senior high schools.

The DepEd said its proposed budget will also raise the standard of the department’s personnel welfare and professional development with the provision for Special Hardship Allowance, Magna Carta for Public Health Workers, honoraria for teaching overload, salaries of substitute teachers and other non-permanent positions, provision for retirement and terminal leave benefits of mandatory retirees, and human resources training and development.

“The tremendous work continues, and so must our fiscal discipline and reforms,” Briones said.

“With stakeholders, partners and the community, we seek to ensure that quality education relevant to the goals of national development will reach all learners, will enable them to continue life in the face of uncertainty, and will equip them for further education and better opportunities,” she added.