THE DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management (DBM) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting learning recovery initiatives, including the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program, amid deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget.

Under the leadership of Acting Secretary Kim Robert De Leon, the DBM said accelerating the implementation of the ARAL Program remains a government priority, as outlined in National Budget Memorandum No. 157, issued on March 16, 2026, and the 2027 Budget Priorities Framework.

Under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), DepEd is allocated P975.963 billion, the largest proposed budget among government departments.

Although the ARAL Program has no separate budget line item in the proposed NEP, the DBM clarified that its implementation may still be funded through existing DepEd programs and activities, subject to applicable budgeting rules.

Under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), P8.936 billion was allocated for the ARAL Program through various DepEd programs.

Meanwhile, the proposed 2027 budget includes P6.472 billion for textbooks and other instructional materials, which may also be used to support the learning resources required for the program.

The DBM further explained that available Personnel Services allotments may cover authorized compensation for teachers conducting ARAL tutoring sessions beyond their regular teaching loads.

The clarification underscores the DBM’s position that the absence of a dedicated budget line item does not necessarily preclude funding for the ARAL Program, as long as resources are available under existing allocations and their use complies with government budgeting rules.