Solon seeks P20-B hike in DepEd's budget for printing modules

A House lawmaker on Thursday called for a P20-billion increase in the proposed budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) to fund the requirements for the printing of self-learning modules for students unable to attend online classes.

"It is my proposal... to ask the appropriations committee of the House to allocate additional budget, maybe P20 billion to fund the full printing requirements of the self-learning modules and to implement the distance learning education of the Department of Education," said Bohol Representative Edgar Chatto during the plenary debates on the department's budget.

According to Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong, who sponsored the DepEd's budget, around P40 billion is needed to provide students with printed self-learning modules for the school year 2021-2021, but only P20 billion is allocated under the 2021 General Appropriations Bill.

Of this amount, P15 billion are regular programmed funds while P5 billion are unprogrammed funds.

"Tama kayo, it's not enough," said Limkaichong.

Chatto recalled that during their budget briefing, DepEd officials said that the remaining funds needed to print modules, including the purchase of bond papers, are generated from the Special Education Fund and the Brigada Eskwala funds, which he said are not enough.

"The Special Education Fund in local governments is not that much, it is only generated one percent from real property taxes and for small communities especially in rural areas, this is very, very small amount," he said.

"In the Brigada Eskwela, because of the lack of teaching modules or printing materials and the others, they resort to really soliciting funds coming from the private sector," he added.

Chatto urged his fellow lawmakers to consider increasing the DepEd's budget for printing modules.

"The proposal from the DepEd says P40 billion is being needed and both unprogrammed funds and regular allocation only totals P20 billion. So practically we are only funding half of the requirement," he said.

"At the most appropriate time, when amendments will be accepted, I hope and I also would like to appeal that this increase in budget is very very necessary and should be included in the amendments," he added.

The DepEd is proposing a total of P605 billion budget for 2021. -MDM, GMA News