"Sad to learn that both houses of Congress have decided to decrease by P12 billion the budget the President proposed for DepEd for 2025. This reverses a trend in recent years where Congress added even more to the education budget, save for one year during the pandemic," Angara on Thursday posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The bicameral conference committee on Wednesday reduced to P737 billion, from P748.65 billion, the DepEd's 2025 funding allocation in the reconciled version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
Of the amount cut, P10 billion will be slashed from the DepEd's computerization program, which 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. The digital divide will widen," Angara lamented.
"Those who do not have computers will find it hard to catch up," he said yesterday on the sidelines of his visit to public schools in Iloilo City.
The DepEd will explore partnerships with the private sector and non-government organizations to provide technology to public schools, Angara said.
Of the P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025, P1.1 trillion will be allocated to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
This story is from the December 14, 2024 edition of The Philippine Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 14, 2024 edition of The Philippine Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
ART'S HEROES AND ZEROES
2024's defining moments in art and history.
FAMILY TAPESTRIES
In my senior year of college, I was assigned to read, for a memory studies class, the memoir Subversive Lives, a generational portrait of the Marcos dictatorship years written by the Quimpo siblings.
The family Christmas tradition in Baguio
Two weeks ago, our family went on our annual Christmas trip to Baguio from Dec. 12 to 15.
Ateneo Art Gallery presents PKL Prize winners and unveils return exhibition of the Ateneo Art Awards 2024
The Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG) announced this year's winning writers for the Ateneo Art Awards 2024 Purita Kalaw-Ledesma (PKL) Prizes in Art Criticism during the Awarding Ceremony held Nov. 24.
MMFF PRODUCERS HOPEFUL FOR AUDIENCE SUPPORT
EVERY YEAR, THE METRO Manila Film Festival (MMFF) provides one of the biggest platforms for Filipino films to take the spotlight. However, not all films are created equal in the eyes of cinemas and audiences.
Take it from Kim Chiu: Celebrate the small wins
Kim Chiu is known to her legion of fans and in the local tinseltown as the \"Pinoy Big Brother: Teen\" housemate and big winner, The Chinita Princess, and the Kapamilya performer and actress.
Nomura: BSP likely to deliver three rate cuts in early 2025
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) likely implement a series of 25-basis-point (bps) rate cuts during its first three meetings in 2025, Nomura Global Markets Research said.
ACMobility takes over EV charger locator
The automotive unit of the Ayala Group has acquired a startup that promotes the shift to electric vehicles by pointing drivers to the nearest charging station wherever in the Philippines.
Holiday exodus
The Christmas and New Year holiday exodus out of the city began over the weekend and will likely last until the first week of January.
ADB OKs $500-M loan for employment recovery
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $500-million loan to the Philippines to support employment recovery through skills training and prepare the workforce for changing industry needs.