DepEd’s budget for 2022 at P629.8B

Joyce M. Basilio

The Department of Education and its attached agencies are set to receive a P629.8 billion budget for its National Expenditure Program for 2022, 6% higher than its P595 billion budget in 2021 to primarily support the expansion of safe face-to-face classes.

This, after DepEd successfully defended its approved budget for 2022 before the Senate of the Philippines.

In her opening speech, budget sponsor and Senator Pia Cayetano lauded the Department’s effort to push for the safe reopening of schools which started last November 15.

Cayetano said she is very proud that schools are finally opening and welcoming the students back to the classrooms. The Education department has been relentlessly pushing hard for the President to acknowledge the importance of the resumption of classes for young learners.

Meanwhile, Education officials thanked the Senate for recognizing the Department’s need to sustain the development of its program that mainly focuses on education recovery.

They said they welcome senators’ inputs for effectively allocating these funds that will surely build upon the capacity to provide the needs of learners and teachers especially that schools are gradually reopening,” Secretary Briones said.

DepEd has seen a significant increase in budget allocations in its big-ticket programs, including the Computerization Program (94.27%) and Government Assistance and Subsidies (5.73%), which includes the Senior High School voucher program, among others.

The budget for the General Management and Supervision (MOOE) has also increased from P7.61 billion to P8.09 billion to fund the health and safety needs of the schools in implementing face-to-face classes next school year.

In line with this, DepEd also appropriated Php 358 million for the newly created program called the Priority School Health Facilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the Senate Plenary Hearing, the DepEd’s 2022 budget now awaits bicameral deliberations for their approval before the President.

The author

--oOo-

is Teacher

III at Camba High School