Photo credit: PCO

In a recent meeting, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. made a compelling case for beefing up the budget for the Department of Education (DepEd) after learning about potential setbacks due to reduced allocations for 2025. The President emphasized that education remains a top priority for his administration, calling for substantial funding to address critical issues, particularly the teacher shortage.

“We have to be able to show that that’s the priority,” President Marcos stated, as he reviewed DepEd’s 2025 budget plans alongside education officials. Despite the agency’s proposed budget of PHP748 billion, Congress approved only PHP737 billion, cutting down crucial allocations.

These reductions affect several key areas, including the creation of new school personnel positions, the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF), and the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP). DepEd officials voiced concerns that the lowered budget would further strain the already pressing issue of teacher shortages, impacting the quality of education.

For instance, the DCP’s proposed PHP12.379 billion was slashed to PHP2.43 billion, severely limiting the procurement of essential tools like laptops, smart TVs, and internet access for students and teachers. This forced the cancellation of about PHP4 billion worth of projects already in the pipeline.

The budget cut also hampers the construction of new school buildings under the BEFF, further stressing the need for more resources.

On a related note, President Marcos also discussed the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) budget. While TESDA saw a boost from PHP18.50 billion to PHP20.73 billion, some of its key programs still went unfunded. This includes plans for an Enterprise-based Training Office and a new Regional Office for the Negros Island Region.

President Marcos’s call for increased education funding highlights his administration’s commitment to resolving the gaps that could hinder the nation’s educational progress.