The House of Representatives has approved the Department of Education’s proposed P975.96-billion budget for 2027, with additional support sought for programs covering school security, mental health, learning recovery, teachers and classrooms.
The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomed the approval Tuesday, saying lawmakers backed the restoration or augmentation of several programs that were not included in the original 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara thanked lawmakers for supporting the agency’s proposed funding priorities and credited the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for advancing the education agenda.
The budget sponsor, Davao de Oro 1st District Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, also expressed support for supplementing the department’s budget following DepEd’s earlier submission of a list of programs it considered critical.
Angara said the additional support would help the department protect learners, support teachers, accelerate learning recovery and improve education outcomes nationwide.
Among the programs identified for restoration or additional funding are school security, mental health support, the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, teacher hiring and career progression, and classroom construction.
The need for stronger school security gained added urgency following the campus shooting in South Cotabato on Sept. 18.
Angara said schools should remain safe spaces where parents can confidently send their children and that additional resources would allow DepEd to establish physical safeguards and psychosocial support systems across campuses.
The requested funding for school safety will be used for security personnel, metal detectors and perimeter fences.
DepEd is also seeking additional resources to sustain gains in basic education recovery through the ARAL Program.
During School Year 2025-2026, the program’s targeted interventions helped reduce the number of struggling readers nationwide from 6.7 million to 2.2 million, according to DepEd.
Other programs covered by the requested budget increase include the expanded School-Based Feeding Program, recruitment and promotion of teachers and support personnel, classroom construction and repairs, and specialized education programs.
These include Special Needs Education, Madrasah Education and Indigenous Peoples Education.
The House approval follows DepEd’s presentation of its proposed 2027 budget before the House Committee on Appropriations on Sept. 7.
The original P975.96-billion NEP proposal included funding for personnel services, teacher career progression, classroom construction and repairs, among other core programs. DepEd had separately sought P145.19 billion in additional funding for critical programs.
The proposed 2027 DepEd budget is 5.11 percent higher than its 2026 allocation, according to the Department of Budget and Management.
The House approval is part of the ongoing congressional deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget.
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