The House of Representatives has approved in plenary the proposed 2027 budget for the Department of Education (DepEd), amounting to P975.96 billion and representing 13.55 percent of the total national budget.
Following the termination of plenary debates, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara expressed gratitude to the House of Representatives for supporting the allocation. The budget framework includes cross-party support from lawmakers to restore or augment funding for critical programs beyond the baseline figures set in the original National Expenditure Program (NEP) proposal.
Angara praised the House leadership and legislators, led by budget sponsor Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen S. Zamora, for backing DepEd’s initiatives to address pressing challenges in campus safety, learning recovery, and basic infrastructure.
“We deeply appreciate the House of Representatives’ strong commitment to education and the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in advancing the country’s education agenda. This support will help us protect learners, support teachers, accelerate learning recovery, and improve learning outcomes across the country,” Angara said.
During plenary deliberations, lawmakers emphasized the necessity of securing supplementary funding for high-priority areas. DepEd submitted a “wish list” targeting specific key sectors, including school security, mental health support, learning recovery programs, teacher hiring and career progression, and classroom construction.
Calls for enhanced physical security on campuses gained added urgency following the recent shooting incident at Banga National High School in South Cotabato. In response, DepEd requested supplementary allocations for physical safety enhancements, such as additional security personnel, metal detectors, and perimeter fencing, alongside funding under the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act to hire School Counselor Associates and support personnel.
“Schools must be sacred, safe spaces where parents feel confident sending their children every day. With these additional resources, we can establish the necessary physical safeguards and psychosocial support systems to ensure peace of mind across all our campuses,” Angara said.
Angara also underscored the need to maintain momentum in basic education recovery, particularly through the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program. Targeted interventions under the ARAL initiative helped decrease the number of struggling readers nationwide from 6.7 million to 2.2 million during School Year 2025–2026.
The requested supplementary funds are earmarked to sustain the ARAL Program, expand the School-Based Feeding Program, support the recruitment and promotion of teaching and administrative staff, fund classroom construction and repairs, bolster school safety, and support specialized learning programs including Special Needs Education (SNEd), Madrasah, and Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd).
Reaffirming DepEd’s commitment to fiscal integrity and accountability, Angara assured lawmakers that the department will actively collaborate with legislative partners and community stakeholders on policy recommendations raised during the budget hearings. DepEd plans to work closely with its partners to address remaining gaps in foundational skills and build on recent gains in the basic education sector.