DEPARTMENT of Education Sec. Leonor Briones said yesterday that the agency could have provided gadgets and materials needed in distance learning if they had funding like the artificial sand project.

“Halimbawa, may P389 million na ibibigay ang pamahalaan sa departamento, sigurado ako na malaking bahagi diyan ay mapupunta sa pangangailangan ng gadgets,” Briones said in the Laging Handa press briefing.

The education chief also said “we have more than 3,000 last-mile schools which have no connectivity and are a bit isolated.”

She added that part of the budget could also be used to fund the printing of self-learning materials.

She noted, however, that she does not want to meddle with the other agencies’ budget as they try to accomplish their own goals with what they have.

“Pero hindi kami nakikialam sa budget ng may budget…kung ano ang ina-allocate sa amin ng Presidente at ng Department of Budget, ‘yun ang pinagkakasya namin,” she stressed.

Recently, the dumping of dolomite sand along the shore of Manila Bay in Roxas Boulevard as part of its beautification project has drawn different reactions from various sectors.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has said that the budget was not solely for the dolomite rock brought from Cebu.

Environmental groups have strongly criticized the move, describing the project as “unnecessary” clean-up program along the shoreline of Manila Bay.

The health department, on the other hand, has warned the public on the inhalation of the artificial material as it can affect the respiratory system.

Before the start of the school year, several teacher groups held demonstrations due to the education department not providing them with gadgets needed for distance learning.

Around 24 million students are enrolled for this year, the majority, or 22.2 million of which, are enrolled in public schools.