Manila: The House of Representatives on Tuesday wrapped up the plenary deliberation on the proposed budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) and its attached agencies for 2025 amounting to PHP793.177 billion.

In her sponsorship speech, Davao De Oro 1st District Rep. and House Appropriations Committee vice-chair Maria Carmen Zamora said the DepEd’s proposed budget for next year will support the agency’s five-point agenda, which includes improving educational outcomes by ensuring senior high school graduates are employable, raising the quality of education by enhancing the curriculum, and addressing classroom and digital gaps.

Zamora said the five-point agenda, which is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his State of the Nation Address, also focuses on upskilling teachers and promoting the well-being of learners.

Major allocations in the proposed 2025 budget of DepEd include:

Elementary and Secondary School Operations (or the maintenance and other operating expenses):
PHP49.76 billion;

Government Assistance and Subsidies: PHP40.51 billion;

New School Personnel Positions: PHP34 billion;

Basic Education Facilities: PHP29.31 billion;

Textbooks and Instructional Materials: PHP12.41 billion;

DepEd Computerization Program: PHP12.38 billion;

School-Based Feeding Program: PHP11.78 billion;

Flexible Learning Options: PHP4.28 billion;

Learning Tools and Equipment: PHP3.55 billion; and

Disaster Preparedness and Response: PHP652.73 million.

Zamora urged her fellow lawmakers to continue supporting DepEd’s budget to help the agency provide quality education for all Filipino learners.

“This budget will enable DepEd to carry out its mandate of providing the best possible basic education so that all our learners can become equipped for the successes and challenges of tomorrow,” Zamora said.

“With your support, we can give the Department of Education whatever it needs to make the state of basic education a sunny and bright reality,” she added.

The DepEd, under Secretar
y Sonny Angara, expressed its gratitude to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Zamora, and the members of the House for passing the budget.

Portions of the funds will be allocated to DepEd’s attached agencies, including the National Book Development Board (NBDB), National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT), National Museum, Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCD), and the National Academy of Sports (NAS).

Source: Philippines News Agency