The Department of Education (DepEd), following the signing of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2025 on December 30, is exploring collaborative measures with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Finance (DOF) to implement its key basic education programs this year.
While the education sector secured the largest allocation in the 2025 GAA at P1.055 trillion, DepEd aims to augment funding through unprogrammed appropriations and other constitutional mechanisms to support its key initiatives, including the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP).
Education Secretary Sonny Angara expressed optimism about addressing funding gaps, emphasizing the importance of inter-agency cooperation.
“Education remains a top priority for this administration, and we will be working closely with the DBM and DOF to explore funding mechanisms that will enable us to deliver our mandate,” Secretary Angara said.
“Education is everyone’s business, and we’re aiming for closer collaboration,” he remarked.
The secretary also highlighted the roles that DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and DOF Secretary Ralph Recto will play in securing additional funding for the agency.
“We will ensure that Social Services, including Education, will remain a priority, in accordance with the mandate of our Constitution, as well as Health,” Secretary Recto assured.
Meanwhile, Secretary Pangandaman also noted that any additional funding could be utilized to augment the budgets of various sectors and their affected priority programs.
“As long as we have additional revenue from the DOF, we can actually augment or increase the budget of DepEd, specifically for the computerization program,” she said.
Sec. Angara praised President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for exercising maximum prudence in signing the 2025 GAA and prioritizing responsive and sustainable programs.
“DepEd remains hopeful that its partnership with government agencies and stakeholders will help address ongoing challenges and ensure that critical initiatives meet the needs of Filipino learners.”
