MANILA - The House Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) has recommended the allocation of P500 million to fund school safety and security measures in 2027, following the recent deadly campus shooting incidents.
This is in response to the request of the Department of Education to allocate funding for security guards, metal detectors and walkthrough scanners, as well as perimeter fences to heighten security in campuses.
Under the 2027 National Expenditure Program, the item has zero funding.
House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing made the motion for the BARSc to recommend funding school safety and security, which was seconded and carried after no one objected.
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“Kailangan po nating maging handa sa mga pagkakataon kung mayroon mang ganoon ulit na mangyayari with school shootings and violence, and potential threats to the safety of our students… The request of the agency po, I believe, amounts to around P800 million… Given the urgency of the situation at kung gaano kahalaga ito, I would like to put forth for the consideration of the BARSc… to please allocate P500 million towards school safety and security,” Suansing said.
“I support the proposal, because recently, sa distrito ko po nangyari ‘yung shooting, and talagang hindi ito naanticipate at walang budget, and it is quite important na sana hindi na madagdagan, at wala nang buhay na mabubuwis,” House Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez said.
The BARSc also recommended to allocate P350 million for the DepEd’s Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, which was also unfunded under the 2027 NEP.
“We were surprised to find out that this year, zero ang budget ng ARAL sa NEP. Kung hindi natin ito mapopondohan, mawawala ang tutoring program ng mga kabataan,” Suansing said.
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“This is a very important program that helps with the tutoring of our students, especially those students who are having challenges and difficulties in school. They are provided tutoring program to help them catch up with their school work,” she added.
The BARSc, meanwhile, proposed additional allocations for the following programs under the education sector in 2027:
Basic Education Facilities Fund (DepEd)- P952 million
Madarasah Education Program (DepEd)- P50 million
Special Needs Education Program (DepEd)- P75 million
Indigenous People Education Program (DepEd)- P25 million
Tertiary Education Subsidy (CHED)- P2.1 billion
Tulong Dunong Program (CHED)-P1.7 billion
UP Center for Education and Development, UP Diliman (UP System)- P70 million
Resilience Institute- Conduct of Research Services- Project NOAH (UP System)- P275 million
UP Diliman Institute of Mathematics (UP System)- P15 million
Locally Funded Project (various universities) (SUCs) –P456 million
Training for Work Scholarship Program (TESDA)- P966.6 million
Special Training for Employment Program (TESDA)- P469.2 million
AGRICULTURE
The BARSc recommended a P10-billion allocation for the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk, which was unfunded in the 2027 NEP, in anticipation of the possible effects of El Nino on the sector.
“’Yung isa nating gustong gawin din para siguraduhing maging Super El Nino ready ‘yung budget natin para sa taong 2027 ay malagyan ng pondo ‘yung Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk. (06:39) At least po mayroon tayong nakaabang na pondo para makatulong tayo agad sa ating mga magsasaka,” Suansing explained.
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“’Yung P10 billion na naibigay natin sa taong 2026 na budget ay nakatulong sa roughly 4.3 million farmers sa buong bansa,” she added.
The House subpanel also proposed additional allocations for several programs under the Department of Agriculture:
Expanded Fertilizer Assistance- P500 million
Solar Pumps for Irrigation- P125 million
Provision of hybrid solar-powered ice plants- P105 million
Implementation of the Agri-Transport and Support Infrastructure Project- P150 million
Farm-to-market roads- P4.96 billion
Construction, rehabilitation, improvement of fish ports- P500 million
High Value Crops- P100 million
The BARSc’s proposed amendments to the House bill on the 2027 national budget will be up for the consideration of the House Committee on Appropriations and the House plenary.