The Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking a permanent, dedicated line-item allocation in the Fiscal Year 2027 national budget to address systemic safety gaps in the basic education system.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the Department is coordinating with legislators to establish a distinct budget line item in future national appropriations to ensure that funds are dedicated to school safety and learner protection measures.
The proposal translates recommendations into concrete 2027 budget items, building on safety measures already underway under the Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment (ESMLE) policy, or DepEd Order No. 6, s. 2026.
“Ang kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral ay nangangailangan ng patuloy at sapat na pamumuhunan. Kaya sa panukalang 2027 budget, nakatutok tayo sa pagpopondo sa seguridad, crisis preparedness, emergency response, training ng ating mga tauhan, at pangkalahatang learner support bilang magkakaugnay na prayoridad,” Secretary Angara said.
Under the proposed budget appeal, funds will explicitly target vital physical security assets and support roles, including security guards, School Counselor Associates (SCAs), closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, perimeter fences, and walk-through and handheld metal detectors.
The proposed expanded deployment of School Counselor Associates aims to create an early intervention system to detect behavioral red flags, anti-bullying concerns, and mental health struggles before they escalate into campus incidents.
DepEd is also encouraging local government units (LGUs) to complement these line-item allocations by utilizing Special Education Funds (SEF) for immediate security needs.
“Habang ginagawa natin ang ating bahagi sa pambansang badyet, itinutulak din natin ang pakikipagtulungan sa mga LGU na mayroong SEF dahil shared responsibility ng buong lipunan ang kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral,” Angara said.
The overall strategy aligns with the ongoing DepEd School Safety Campaign, launched under directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which involves a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach to school safety and learner protection.
Angara explained that while existing Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) cover general school requirements, these funds are frequently absorbed by utility bills, instructional supplies, and administrative upkeep, leaving insufficient budget for physical security hardware or specialized personnel.
“Sa kasalukuyan, umaasa lang ang karamihan sa MOOE. Dahil nagkakaiba ang MOOE depende sa laki ng paaralan, hindi pantay-pantay ang kapasidad nilang magpatupad ng seguridad. Kapag naging ganap na line item ito, mas matutugunan natin ang pangangailangan ng bawat eskwelahan nang mas mabilis at organisado,” Secretary Angara said.
The proposal stems from a nationwide school safety audit that identified recurring security gaps and safety risks across basic education institutions. To complement physical security measures, DepEd is also prioritizing learner well-being and psychosocial support services under its proposed PHP976-billion budget for FY 2027.
DepEd reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Congress, LGUs, other national government agencies, the Philippine National Police (PNP), and civil society partners throughout the budget deliberations to ensure that public funds translate directly into secure, resilient, and supportive school environments nationwide.
