Angara disappointed over 2025 DepEd budget cuts

Education Secretary Sonny Angara expressed dismay on Friday over a P12 billion reduction in the proposed budget for the Department of  Education (DepEd) in 2025.

“Sa amin  almost P12 billion yung na-cut. Karamihan o yung bulk noon na P10 billion ay para doon sa computerization program ng Department of Education  (DepEd),” said Angara in an ambush interview.

(Almost P12 billion was cut, with the bulk—P10 billion—taken from the DepEd's computerization program.)

He emphasized the importance of computers in modernizing education and equipping teachers and students with essential technological tools.

“Medyo nalulungkot kami doon kasi gusto natin moderno yung ating  edukasyon at yung ating mga teachers at mga estudyante may mga nagagamit na bagong teknolohiya, mga computers. Yung new education technology  medyo mahihirapan sila kung wala,” he added.

(We are saddened because we want our education system to be modern. Without access to new technology, students and teachers may struggle.)

Balancing priorities

Senator Grace Poe acknowledged the reductions but pointed out that the overall budget for  DepEd in 2025 was higher than that of 2024, reflecting the Senate’s continued commitment to education.

Poe explained that resources were prioritized for human capital, doubling the budget for the teaching supplies allowance from P4.825 billion in 2024 to P9.948  billion in 2025.

“We prioritized human resources. Ang kaguruan at mga estudyante ang puso at diwa ng sektor ng edukasyon, hindi ang mga kompyuter. This is why we  more than doubled the budget for teaching supplies allowance from  P4.825 billion in 2024 to P9.948 billion next year,” she said.

(The heart of education is its teachers and students, not computers.)

“We also took note of COA's finding that only 50% of the 2023 budget for the Computerization Program was utilized. We must see to it that all of the program’s systemic problems, such as procurement delays, would first be addressed before allocating the corresponding budget increase,” she added.

Contrasting Views

Senator Win Gatchalian echoed Angara’s concerns, emphasizing the role of education as a tool for poverty alleviation.

“Computers and gadgets for learning should always be prioritized,” he said.

However, he acknowledged the limited resources and the need to balance competing budget priorities.

Several senators expressed frustration over cuts to the P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025  during deliberations on the General Appropriations Bill.

Nonetheless,  Gatchalian welcomed increases in the budgets for the Energy and  Information and Communications Technology Departments. — DVM, GMA Integrated News