After the “successful” opening of classes on Monday, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said that she feels relieved that the proposed P606.6 billion budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) for 2021 was approved on Tuesday.
“Another thorn which was pulled out is the approval of the National Budget by Congress,” Briones told BusinessMirror after their proposed budget was approved by on second reading.
Briones said that she was thankful that they were spared from “the usual 12 -hour plenary hearing.”
“We have to prepare for the next round of battles which is part of the bigger war on the future of education,” she said referring to the final reading on November 16.
The DepEd will get the lion share in the P754 billion budget of education sector.
Undersecretary for Finance Anne Sevilla earlier said that the 2021 budget of the agency is 9.54 percent higher as compared to the P552.99 billion budget of 2020.
She noted that major programs with higher allocations are:
– Textbooks and Other Instructional Materials -with P963 million (same amount was allotted for 2021)
– DepEd Computerization Program- P4. 819 billion for 2020 (P8.996 billion or increased to 86.68 percent in 2021)
– Madrasah Education – P 341 million for 2020 (P347 million or 1.80 percent increase in 2021)
– Learning Tools and Equipment- P2. 708 billion for 2020 ( P2.719 billion or 0.42 percent increase in 2021)
– Flexible Learning Options – P 601 million for 2020 ( P15.216 billion 2.433 percent increase in 2021)
– New School Personnel Positions (Creation of Teaching)- P 1.274 billion for 2020 (P2.426 billion for 2021 or 90.42 percent)
Image credits: Nonie Reyes