Kindergarten funds of DepEd released early — DBM

A P2.39 billion slice of this year’s P238.8 billion budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) was released early to implement the recently signed law mandating compulsory kindergarten education for Filipino children yet to enter grade school.   “The execution of this law in all public schools will help young children buckle up properly before entering elementary education,” the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Wednesday in a statement.   Budget Secretary Florencio Abad was Education Secretary during the Arroyo administration.   “The passage of the universal kindergarten law only strengthens our platform for poverty reduction and sustained socio-economic growth, and we are looking forward to introducing more innovations in the way we educate our youth,” Abad said.   The 2012 allocation for kindergarten education is an increase from the P2.34 billion spent last year when the DepEd implemented kindergarten on an optional basis.   The kindergarten funds were released through the Agency Budget Matrix before January 2012. — ELR, GMA News