Education Secretary Sonny Angara welcomed the House of Representatives’ approval of PHP1.952 billion in additional funding for priority Department of Education (DepEd) programs under the proposed 2027 national budget.
The Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) of the House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Suansing, approved the funding additions to restore support for programs that were either unfunded or reduced under DepEd’s PHP975.96 billion allocation in the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
The proposed additions include PHP952 million for the Basic Education Facilities Fund for classroom construction, PHP500 million for the School Safety and Security Program, and PHP350 million for the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program.
Lawmakers also restored funding for inclusive education programs, including PHP75 million for Special Needs Education, PHP50 million for Madrasah Education, and PHP25 million for Indigenous Peoples Education.
“We are immensely grateful to our colleagues in the House of Representatives, led by Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing, for stepping up to bridge these vital funding gaps,” Angara said. “Every peso added here goes directly to making our public schools safer, our classrooms less congested, and our children better equipped to learn.”
The PHP350 million allocation for ARAL will support tutoring and remediation programs for targeted learners nationwide. During School Year 2025–2026, learning recovery interventions helped bring down the number of struggling readers nationwide from 6.7 million to 2.2 million.
“Learning recovery is not a one-year project; it requires continuous, steady momentum,” Angara said. “Giving the ARAL Program a dedicated allocation ensures that our tutors and teachers have the resources they need to keep pulling our learners forward.”
Angara also highlighted the need for additional funding for school safety following recent security incidents. The proposed PHP500 million allocation will support security personnel and protective measures while strengthening coordination among schools, parents, local government units, law enforcement agencies, and other community partners.
“Our schools must remain safe havens for both our teachers and learners,” Angara said. “This funding allows us to deploy proper security personnel and protective measures on the ground, giving parents peace of mind whenever they send their kids off to school each morning.”
On the PHP952 million restoration for classroom construction, Angara said DepEd will work with lawmakers to ensure that projects are implemented efficiently and transparently.
“We hear the House loud and clear on the need for accountability and timely implementation. DepEd will make sure that every classroom funded under this budget is constructed on time and built to last,” Angara said.
As Congress continues its deliberations on the 2027 national budget, DepEd said it remains committed to working with lawmakers to secure the resources needed to improve learning conditions, strengthen school safety, and support Filipino learners nationwide.
