DepEd Seeks Over P500M Additional Funding for Special Needs Program

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking over P500 million in additional funding to bolster its special needs education program, as the initiative faces potential budget cuts in the agency’s proposed 2027 budget. Education Secretary Sonny Angara told lawmakers on Monday that the additional funding would support more than 30,000 public schools nationwide and enhance teacher training for students with special needs. "We’ve appealed for an additional P541.5 million, subject to the discretion of the honorable members of Congress," he said, pitching an increase for the P850 million earmarked for next year. Angara said the requested increase will help implement the inclusive education program in 34,000 schools nationwide and train more teachers in special education. "This is to train some of the teachers given the systemic lack of personnel and capacity building for 622 school heads, supervisors, and multidisciplinary teams as required by the inclusive education [law]," he said.