DepEd Seeks Additional P10B for Teacher Laptops Amid Funding Gaps

The Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking an additional P10 billion for laptops, as the proposed 2027 budget only allocates funding for 50,000 units, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said Monday. Angara made the statement during a hearing of the House Committee on Appropriations on DepEd’s proposed 2027 budget. He noted that DepEd is distributing 283,000 laptops this year, which he described as the biggest single allocation for teachers in any year. However, with approximately 870,000 teachers nationwide, this distribution will only cover about one-third of the teaching workforce. When asked by Representative Edgar Erice whether the administration could provide laptops to all public school teachers by the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term, Angara explained that the proposed 2027 budget has funding for only 50,000 laptops. Therefore, an additional P10 billion is requested to fulfill the President's promise. The laptop request is part of DepEd’s broader appeal for additional funding for programs not accommodated under the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP). The department is seeking an additional P145.19 billion to address funding gaps for learning recovery, personnel hiring, school safety, and other programs. This supplemental request includes funding for teacher benefits, training, and laptops, intended to allow teachers to focus on teaching. Angara also acknowledged the challenge of sustaining the laptop distribution, noting that providing 283,000 units in one year would cover nearly one-third of the teaching workforce. He stated that if this pace cannot be sustained, it would be impossible to provide laptops to all teachers. The current year's rollout represents a significant departure from the usual level of support for teachers. DepEd presented a proposed P975.96-billion budget for fiscal year 2027, including allocations for its attached agencies. However, the department is seeking an additional P145.19 billion for critical programs not funded under the 2027 NEP. Under the proposed NEP allocation, Personnel Services would rise 8.64% to P766.74 billion, while Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) would decline 15.94% to P174.32 billion and Capital Outlay would fall 67.49% to P32.34 billion. Source: GMA News Philippines