KINUMPIRMA ni Senate Finance Committee chairman Sonny Angara na ang Department of Education ang may pinakamalaking budget ngayong taon na hindi pa nagagatos.

Sinabi ni Angara na sa P110 bilyon ng programmed appropriation para sa 2020 na hindi pa nailalabas, P60.7 bilyon ang para sa DepEd.

“In education, around P60.7 billion of funds under the budget of the Department of Education are at risk of lapsing by December 31, 2020 unless this year’s GAA is extended,” pahayag ni Angara.

Kabilang sa pinaglalaanan ng pondo ang Government Assistance Subsidies, school-based feeding program, procurement ng technical vocational and livelihood equipment para sa senior high schools, delivery ng textbooks at instruction materials, maintenance and other operating expenses ng mga paaralan, DepEd computerization program projects, basic education facilities, at ang last mile schools.

Batay rin sa tala, may P15 bilyon naman na pondo ang hindi pa rin nailalabas ng Commission on Higher Education.

Dahil dito, magiging malaking tulong kung tuluyang maisasabatas ang mga panukala upang palawigin pa ang paggastos ng 2020 General Appropriations Act at maging ng Bayanihan to Recover as One Act na una nang inaprubahan ng Kamara at Senado.

“Covid19 has disrupted our lives. We’ve had to change how we work; how we study; how we interact with each other; and how we purchase our necessities, among others. Government agencies were not spared, as they too had to adjust—foregoing plans and programs for the sake of the Covid19 response,” pahayag ni Angara.

“But now that there is light at the end of the tunnel, it is time to think about how we should restart, rebuild and recover. By extending the availability of the 2020 budget and the B2 funds, we are opening a wider window for the country to return to its original path to growth and development,” dagdag ng senador.