MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) may not be able to hire 14,274 additional teachers in 2027 if funding for new teaching positions is not restored, as the agency faces funding gaps across several priority programs under the proposed national budget.

During the House Committee on Appropriations hearing on DepEd’s proposed 2027 budget, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said some of the department’s targets may not be met if current funding levels are maintained.

Among the affected areas is infrastructure.

Based on the proposed 2027 budget, only ₱32.33 billion is allocated for DepEd’s infrastructure capital outlay, significantly lower than the ₱99.47 billion provided in 2026.

The department is also seeking additional funding for the School-Based Feeding Program. Its proposed allocation dropped to about ₱11 billion from roughly ₱26 billion previously.

The Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning or ARAL Program also received no allocation under the 2027 National Expenditure Program despite DepEd’s request for around ₱16 billion.

Funding for Special Needs Education or SNED also fell short of the department’s request. DepEd sought about ₱1.39 billion, but only ₱849.9 million was included in the proposed allocation, leaving a gap of roughly ₱541 million.

Personnel requirements are also among DepEd’s funding concerns. The proposed 2027 budget carries no allocation for 14,274 new teaching positions, which would require around ₱4.29 billion.

DepEd included these and other requirements in a broader request for roughly ₱145 billion in additional funding.

However, the House Committee on Appropriations said the entire amount may not be accommodated.

Committee chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing asked DepEd to submit a new prioritized, streamlined and rationalized list of programs and projects, estimated at around ₱20 billion, ahead of plenary deliberations.

Suansing said the House is working under a tight schedule as the proposed budget is expected to reach plenary deliberations the following week. She asked DepEd to submit the revised list by Wednesday noon for review.

The new list is expected to focus on the department’s most urgent needs, including catching up on targets for teachers and classrooms, as well as programs that directly affect learners.

Angara welcomed the request and thanked lawmakers for efforts to consider additional funding for the department.

The reprioritized list will serve as one of the bases for lawmakers in determining which DepEd programs may receive additional funding before the proposed 2027 budget proceeds to plenary deliberations.

It remains to be seen whether the requested funding for 14,274 new teachers will be retained among DepEd’s highest priorities in the revised list.

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