PASIG CITY -- The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed its appreciation to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the members of Congress after the education sector obtained the largest increase in the approved 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Malacañang has announced that the education sector, which includes DepEd, SUCs, and CHED, will receive the highest allocation with P788.5 billion, P36.8 billion higher, or a 4.9 percent increase compared to last year's budget.

"I would like to express my gratitude to President Duterte and Congress for the never-ending support to raise the quality of education in the country. The increase in budget will certainly help our reforms and initiatives to transform education amidst the pandemic," Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said.

In the GAA, P631.77 billion was officially allocated to DepEd at the bicameral level – a 6.34% increase from the agency's 2021 GAA at P594.11 billion. DepEd has initially proposed a total P1.37 trillion budget for 2022.

The DepEd-Office of the Secretary has an allocation of P591.18 billion while the remainder will be distributed to the DepEd's six attached agencies, including the Early Childhood Care and Development Council (ECCD Council), National Book Development Board (NBDB), National Council for Children's Television (NCCT), National Museum, Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), and the newly-formed National Academy of Sports (NAS).

Some of DepEd's major programs also saw increases, such as Learning Tools and Equipment (P2.72-B), DepEd Computerization Program (P11.76-B), Basic Education Facilities (P5.94-B), Last Mile Schools Program (P1.51-B), Madrasah Education Program (P356.83-M), and Indigenous Peoples Education (P144.3-M).

Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla noted that these increases would be vital in the agency's initiatives this year, including expanding the limited face-to-face classes nationwide once the President gives his go-signal.

"We are confident that DepEd will be able to build on the progress of the BE-LCP with the budget allocated to us for 2022. The additional funding would also be helpful on our implementation of limited face-to-face classes in public schools," Undersecretary Sevilla stated.

Usec. Sevilla also highlighted the special provision of increasing the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) threshold from P15,000 to P50,000, which will be a massive lift to the field offices amid the pandemic challenges. (DepEd)