Education human resources prioritized over assets - Poe
Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate finance committee chairperson Grace Poe on Friday, Dec. 13, said education remains a priority in terms of human resources over assets, amid the hefty cut in the the Department of Education budget for 2025
Poe was asked to respond to Education Secretary Sonny Angara’s tweet lamenting the ₱12-billion budget cut for his agency. Angara was finance committee chairperson when he was senator.
“Sad to learn that both Houses of Congress have decided to decrease by P12 billion the budget the President proposed for DepEd for 2025. This reverses a trend in recent years where Congress adds even more to the education budget (save for one year during pandemic),” Angara said.
He said ₱10 billion of the cut was intended for the department’s computerization program, which “could have funded thousands of computers/gadgets for our public school children.”
In a text message shared with reporters, Poe noted that DepEd’s budget will still increase by ₱19 billion, from ₱717 billion this year to ₱737 billion in 2025.
“This is a testament to our continuing commitment to prioritize the education sector in line with the mission of our new Secretary,” Poe said.
The House of Representatives had earlier approved a ₱748.65 billion budget for DepEd. However, the bicameral conference committee, composed of members from both the Senate and House of Representatives, reduced it to ₱737 billion in the final version ratified by Congress on Wednesday.
Poe said lawmakers considered the Commission on Audit findings that only half of the 2023 budget had been utilized. As of June 2024, the utilization rate stood at 11.92%.
“We must see to it that all of the program’s systemic problems such as procurement delays be addressed first before allocating the corresponding budget increase,” Poe said.
She added while funds for computers were reduced, the budget for teaching supplies allowance doubled, from ₱4.825 billion this year to ₱9.948 billion in 2025.
“[W]e prioritized human resources. Ang kaguruan at mga estudyante ang puso at diwa ng sektor ng edukasyon, hindi ang mga kompyuter,” she said.
“Priorities had to be weighed and certain cuts on some programs had to be made. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that every peso allocated serves the real needs of our educators and learners,” she added.
Meanwhile, House Deputy Minority Leader and Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro condemned the reduction in computerization funds, calling it a major setback for students struggling to catch up with the digital age.
“This budget cut is completely unacceptable and shows where this administration's priorities truly lie. Instead of working towards the UN-recommended education budget of 6% of GDP, the Marcos Jr. administration is doing the opposite by slashing vital education funds,” she added.
Senator Win Gatchalian, chairman of the committee on basic education, said education, especially computers and gadgets for learning, “should always be given priority,” but acknowledged the constraints of limited resources.
