DepEd gets record-high P436 B for 2016

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) will receive a record-high P436.46 billion this year as the government prepares to roll out the senior high school program in June.

The budget approved by Congress is slightly higher than the P430.729-billion request submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) through the National Expenditures Program.

A copy of the General Appropriations Act, which contains the detailed breakdown of the budget, has yet to be released by the DBM.

But an infographic on the 2016 budget released by the government said part of the DepEd budget would be used to construct 43,000 new classrooms, hire over 62,000 teachers and purchase 103.2 million books and learning materials.

Earlier, Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the bulk of the budget would be used for various projects related to K to 12, which adds two years to basic education in the country.

The DepEd also allotted over P12 billion for the voucher system, which intends to cover the costs of enrolment of Grade 10 graduates of public high schools who wish to enroll in private senior high schools.