14 Disyembre,2024 Sabado
17 days to 2025, Merry Christmas
Happy 21st anniversary, Servants of God in Jesus Christ Christian Ministries Incorporated, Rev. Nestor Sadim, Rev. Manuel Soliman, Director Jorge Lopez
No to Divorce!!!
Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
No to SOGIE bill
PM for any hospital discharge problem
Angara, teachers decry P12 B budget cut
By Creselda Canda-Lopez
“Sad to learn that both houses of Congress have decided to decrease by P12 billion budget President proposed for DepEd for 2025. .. reverses trend in recent years where Congress added even more to education budget, save for one year during pandemic,” Department of Education Secretary Sonny Angara posted on X, Secretary Sonny Angara and teachers’ groups have decried Congress’ decision to cut DepEd’s 2025 budget by P12 billion.
Bicameral conference committee on Wednesday reduced to P737 billion, from P748.65 billion, DepEd’s 2025 funding allocation in reconciled version of General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
Of the amount cut, P10 billion will be slashed from DepEd’s computerization program, aims to provide public schools with gadgets, equipment, software and training for teachers and students.
“Infrastructure is important, but so is investing in our people and human capital… digital divide will widen,those who do not have computers will find it hard to catch up,” Angara lamented.on sidelines of his visit to public schools in Iloilo City.
DepEd will explore partnerships with private sector and non-government organizations to provide technology to public schools, Angara said.
Of P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025, P1.1 trillion will be allocated to Department of Public Works and Highways.
“Investing in infrastructure is very important, that’s why we have increased funds of different agencies in relation to this,” Sen. Grace Poe said in her sponsorship speech before bicam approved GAB’s reconciled version.
Poe pointed out despite budget cut, DepEd’s 2025 budget increased from this year’s P715.3 billion.
Utilization rate of computerization program is at 50 percent in 2023 and 11.92 percent as of June 2024, Poe said, citing Commission on Audit report.
DepEd budget for teaching supplies allowance has been doubled, from P4.825 billion in 2024 to P9.948 billion next year, she noted.
Teachers’ Dignity Coalition said budget cut will widen digital divide among students and exacerbate learning crisis following COVID-19 pandemic.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said budget cut was alarming.
“We’re seeing suspicious increases in presidential and congressional pork barrel and unprogrammed appropriations. ..these discretionary funds conveniently balloon as we approach 2025 national elections… timing and nature of these realignments clearly suggest political motivations rather than genuine concern for public welfare,” ACT chairman Vladimer Quetua said.
Education budget must be increased equivalent to six percent of country’s gross domestic product, as recommended by international standards, he noted.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Congress did its best in allocating scarce resources and reconciling differing versions of budget.
Sen. Pia Cayetano was disappointed by budget cuts suffered by Department of Health (DOH), DepEd, Commission on Higher Education and University of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, 2025 budget restoration for Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) has been welcomed by Department of Social Welfare and Development.
DSWD’s cash aid program has received P26-billion allocation for next year.
“We are happy about this because it would mean implementation of social welfare services will continue, it will not be interrupted,” said DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao.
More than four million “near poor” Filipinos have benefitted from AKAP during its first year of implementation from January to October 2024.
Health benefits provided by Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) will continue with or without subsidy from General Appropriations Act, DOH said.
“We reviewed financial statements of PhilHealth together with its established performance and DOH is confident that it has enough money to continue and even improve operations,” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said.
At the end of calendar year 2023, state health insurer’s accumulated net income was recorded at P463.7 billion.
Following Universal Health Care Act, PhilHealth has secured reserve fund of P280.6 billion, good for two years’ worth of benefits and other operating expenses.
PhilHealth counted its surplus fund balance to be at least P183.1 billion at the start of 2024.
ISKUP! 