By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is asking Congress for an additional P541.5 million to strengthen its special needs education program, citing a shortage of personnel and training capacity as the agency prepares its proposed 2027 budget.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara made the appeal to lawmakers, saying the additional allocation would be used to support inclusive education in schools nationwide and provide teachers and education personnel with the training needed to serve learners with disabilities and other special needs.
DepEd has P850 million earmarked for the program in its proposed 2027 budget. Angara said the department is seeking to raise that amount, subject to congressional approval.
“We’ve appealed for an additional P541.5 million, subject to the discretion of the honorable members of Congress,” Angara told lawmakers.
The proposed increase is intended to help DepEd implement its inclusive education program across approximately 34,000 public schools, while addressing gaps in personnel and professional development.
Angara said the funding would also support capacity-building for 622 school heads, supervisors and members of multidisciplinary teams tasked with carrying out requirements under the country’s inclusive education law.
The education chief pointed to a continuing lack of personnel and training capacity as a major challenge in expanding services for learners with special needs.
The requested funds would therefore be directed toward training more teachers in special education and strengthening the personnel needed to deliver inclusive education programs at the school level.
DepEd is also seeking to hire and train personnel as part of efforts to expand its ability to provide appropriate support to learners with disabilities.
The agency’s funding request now awaits consideration by Congress as lawmakers deliberate on the proposed 2027 national budget.
ia/xf
