The Department of Education (DepEd) said that it first recommended a P532-million SPED budget but that it was later discarded in the 2023 National Expenditure Program in response to complaints from netizens on the zero-budget allocation for the special education (SPED) program next year (NEP).
DepEd said on Monday, “Despite our earnest efforts to advocate for our learners with special needs, it was not considered in the National Expenditure Program.”
In reaction to “malicious and misleading reports that DepEd purposely omitted funding for the special education program,” the DepEd clarified the situation.
Speaking on behalf of the DepEd, Michael Poa stated that “internal adjustments” were being made to the schools’ available maintenance and other operating budgets in order to support the SPED program.
According to our finance strand, for 2021, no amount was allotted for SPED under NEP, but was eventually funded under [the General Appropriations Act] i.e. P329 million,” Poa said in a message.
The DepEd’s special education programs lacked a specific funding under the 2023 NEP, Education Undersecretary Ernesto Gaviola acknowledged last week during a budget hearing before the House committee on appropriations.
Furthermore, Gaviola said, “We requested P560 million for 2023, but it’s zero budget.”
