No budget for SPED

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the Department of Education (DepEd) has failed to provide sufficient documentation for its request of P532 million for next year’s Special Education (SPED) programs in the country.

This was also confirmed by the DepEd under Vice President Sara Duterte. Because of this, no budget was allocated for SPED programs to educate learners with disability in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte 

The DepEd said it initially proposed a budget of P532 million for SPED for the upcoming year, but it was not considered in the NEP. “Unfortunately, despite our earnest efforts to advocate for our learners with special needs, it was not considered in the National Expenditure Program. This is true for two other programs that were excluded from the NEP,” DepEd said in a statement. 

“This is a recurring circumstance every year, and DepEd is not at a loss because we always work with members of Congress to find other ways to fund DepEd programs. In the past years, DepEd has likewise made efforts within the organization to ensure that programs are supported,” it added. 

The DBM said that while it puts primacy on the value of SPED, the DepEd failed to provide details of the proposed amount with specific purposes, the basis of computations, and the status of the ongoing conversion and establishment of Inclusive Learning Resource Centers. 

“While the Department of Education proposed the retention of the line item for the purpose under the FY 2023 National Expenditure Program, no sufficient documentation was provided to support the same,” the DBM said as it also cited the obligation rate of the SPED program, which was only 1.13% as of June 30 or equivalent to only P6.35 million out of P560.202 million. 

The DBM said there is a P1.216-billion “surplus” from the operations of elementary and junior high schools under the DepEd’s maintenance and other operating expenses. “We deemed that the program support or additional allocation for the smooth implementation of the SPED may already be accommodated within the same program, and that a separate budget for the purpose may no longer be necessary,” the DBM said. 

“Further, please note that during budget execution, items may be realigned and modified by the implementing agency to accommodate the requirements of any program that is in dire need of additional resources,” it added. 

From the P633.3-billion budget this year, DepEd is set to get a more significant allocation of P666.25 billion, and P150 millions of which will be allocated to the secretive “confidential funds” to supposedly protect students from illegal activities. (Daily Guardian and Mindanao Examiner.)