By El Amigo
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) is facing a potential freeze in the creation of new public school teaching positions next year after no funding was included for teacher recruitment in its proposed 2027 budget.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara confirmed the lack of allocation during a congressional budget hearing on Monday, but expressed hope that lawmakers would provide funding before the spending plan is finalized.
Angara said DepEd had requested additional funding for its personnel program, including P4.29 billion to create 14,274 new teaching positions.
The amount is part of a broader P49.16-billion request for personnel improvements that DepEd submitted for consideration during the budget deliberations.
The agency was allocated P973.40 billion under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program, representing a decrease of about 3.87% from its P1.01-trillion budget for 2026.
Angara pointed out that DepEd normally hires around 20,000 teachers annually, making the absence of funds for new positions a significant concern as schools continue to require additional personnel.
For 2026, the department received funding for 32,000 new teachers, well above its usual annual hiring level.
Aside from teaching positions, DepEd is seeking additional funds for other personnel needs. These include P16.64 billion for 39,428 Project Development Officer I positions and P10.52 billion for 14,126 School Principal I posts.
Angara’s appeal comes as Congress reviews the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027.
Lawmakers have the authority to revise agency allocations during the budget process, allowing DepEd to secure funding for its proposed teacher positions before the final spending bill is enacted.
ia/xf
