MANILA — The Department of Education welcomed the House of Representatives’ approval of its proposed ₱975.96-billion budget for 2027, as the agency continues to seek additional funding for school safety, learning recovery, mental health support, teacher hiring, and classroom construction.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara thanked lawmakers for supporting efforts to restore or augment funding for critical programs that were not included in the original 2027 National Expenditure Program.

“We deeply appreciate the House of Representatives’ strong commitment to education and the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in advancing the country’s education agenda,” Angara said.

The ₱975.96-billion allocation forms part of the proposed 2027 national budget being deliberated by the House. House records show that DepEd and its attached agencies were scheduled for plenary deliberations on September 22 under House Bill No. 10858, the proposed 2027 General Appropriations Bill.

DepEd earlier asked Congress for an additional ₱145.19 billion to support critical programs that were not accommodated in the original National Expenditure Program. These include learning recovery, additional personnel, school security, classroom construction, and other learner support programs.

Davao de Oro 1st District Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, who sponsored DepEd’s budget in the House, expressed support for supplementing funding after the department submitted its list of priority programs.

“This support will help us protect learners, support teachers, accelerate learning recovery and improve learning outcomes across the country,” Angara said.

Among the areas for which DepEd has sought additional funding is school safety and security, which gained further attention following the September 18 shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato.

DepEd’s supplemental request includes funding for security personnel, metal detectors and scanners, and perimeter fences. The department earlier sought about ₱8.68 billion for school security measures.

“Schools must be sacred, safe spaces where parents feel confident sending their children every day,” Angara said, adding that additional resources could strengthen physical safeguards and psychosocial support in schools.

DepEd is also seeking additional funding for the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning or ARAL Program, which provides targeted interventions for learners struggling with reading and other foundational skills.

According to DepEd, the number of struggling readers nationwide declined from 6.7 million to 2.2 million during School Year 2025–2026. The figures were based on the department’s literacy assessments conducted during the school year.

The agency previously said ARAL received no allocation in the original proposed 2027 NEP and sought about ₱15.98 billion to continue the program, including support for tutors, learning materials, remediation activities and the ARAL Summer Program.

Other programs included in DepEd’s request for additional funding cover the expansion of the School-Based Feeding Program, recruitment and promotion of teachers and support personnel, construction and repair of classrooms, mental health services, and programs for learners under Special Needs Education, Madrasah Education and Indigenous Peoples Education.

The ₱975.96-billion DepEd allocation remains part of the proposed 2027 national budget, which must still complete the congressional budget process before enactment.

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