Teachers without laptops, students with aging technology and lack of classrooms: These and more are just some of the challenges faced by the education sector even as Congress slashed P12 billion from the Department of Education budget. 

Benjo Basas, chairperson of the Teachers Dignity Coalition, said all Philippine schools should have internet connectivity while teachers and learners should have the capability to use modern technology.

WRAP: Cuts to DepEd, PhilHealth as 2025 budget bill nears finish line

Students take part in their online classes inside their home in Parañaque on September 24, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

“Matagal nang pangarap ito ng mga eskwelahan na maging computerize at digitize na sana pero sa ngayon medyo nahihirapan pa tayo. Ang mga teacher wala pang sariling laptop,” he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

“Ang tingin namin, ito ay obligation ng gobyerno na dapat mag-provide ng uri ng teknolohiya na kinakailangan sa mga paaralan…While yung gobyerno natin nagasasabi na kailangan itong digitization, computerization program sa kabuuang sistema. Ang problema, hindi naman ito nagma-manifest pagdating doon sa budget.”

Congress has slashed the 2025 budget for the Department of Education by around P12 billion, including P10 billion for its computerization program.

Sen. Sonny Angara, a former senator and former chair of the finance committee, said the budget cut would bar many teachers and learners from access to online learning and new education technology.

“Medyo mahihirapan sila kung wala silang computer," he said.

(They will be at a disadvantage if they do not have computers.)

ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro called the cut “a clear manifestation of the government’s anti-education and anti-poor policies.”

She said that the Philippines cannot address its learning crisis by spending even less on education.

“Ang P10 billion na cinut sa computerization program ay malaking dagok sa ating mga mag-aaral na desperadong makahabol sa digital age,” Castro said in a statement.

(The P10 billion cut from the computerization program will be a heavy blow to our learners who are desperately trying to catch up with the digital age.)

Marcos said they are changing the way AKAP is implemented to make sure that its beneficiaries improve their lives in the long-term and prevent the misuse and duplication of benefits.

“This approach is anchored in a simple yet profound truth, the appropriation of public funds must not break the public trust,” he said.

The proposed P6.352-trillion spending plan was fraught with controversy after the Bicameral Conference Committee approved cuts in the budgets of some agencies including the Department of Education and removed government subsidy for state insurer PhilHealth.

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Marcos thanked the public for their scrutiny of the national budget.

“Sa sambayanang Pilipino, nakikinig po kami sa inyo. Salamat po sa inyong pagkilatis sa ating national budget at sa pagpuna sa kaibahan ng isinumite ng Kongreso sa president’s proposed budget,” he said.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero noted that while the budget signing took longer than expected, what's important is that it was signed before the end of the year, and the Philippines avoided starting the new year on a reenacted budget.

The chief executive assured Filipinos that the budget will serve the country’s development agenda.

“Titiyakin namin na mananatiling prayoridad ang social services, kasama na rin diyan ang edukasyon ayon sa mandato ng ating Saligang Batas. Pati na rin ang kalusugan,” Marcos said.

The Makabayan bloc, however, noted that the DepEd's Basic Education facilities budget was slashed to P28.05 billion in the spending program.

The Department of Health’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program was also reduced in the budget, it said.

In contrast, they noted a P289 billion increase in the DPWH budget, while the budget for rewards for Bureau of Customs employees climbed to P3.6 billion.

They also noted that the budget for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Modernization program was retained at P35 billion.

Former Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said that the education sector doesn't seem to have the highest budget, as mandated by the Constitution.

"Having vetoed only P26.065B from the P288B ‘congressional insertions’, mostly in the bicameral conference, the DepEd budget is still not 'assigned the highest budgetary priority' contrary to Article XIV Sec 5(5) of the 1987 Constitution," he said in a tweet.

Kabataan Party-list also said the AKAP is a form of “vote-buying for poor workers.”

"If Congress really cared for the welfare of the underpaid and overworked labor force, which is the main target of the AKAP, it would have legislated wage hikes and reforms,” said the group’s spokesperson Renee Co.

"This is a budget of misplaced priorities. Instead of addressing the people's urgent needs for adequate health services, quality education, and social protection, billions are poured into militarization and bureaucratic perks," said Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas.