TEACHERS and students will remain under-supported next year because the proposed budget for 2022 does not provide adequate aid for blended distance learning, ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro said on Wednesday.

“Not providing adequate support for both teachers and students access to a safe and quality education for all would mean the government would continue to fail to provide our youth their right to education,” Castro said.

The lawmaker revealed that in the proposed 2022 budget of the Department of Education, teachers will only get P5,000 cash allowance for a year — broken down into P3,500 teaching supplies allowance, P500 medical check-up allowance and P1,000 internet allowance.

“Tinanggal din ang special provision para sa payment of compensation for teaching overload. Wala na ngang overtime pay ang mga guro, tinanggal pa ang para sa payment ng teaching overload!” she stressed.

She lamented that allocations for several education programs were slashed. The budget for Inclusive Education Program was reduced by P1.539 billion, Indigenous People’s Education Program by P107 million, Flexible Learning Options by P1.4 billion and Special Education program, P32 million.

The lawmaker said that slashing the budgets for these programs will deny many students access to education.

“We are enraged that the National Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict was given a huge increase with this year’s P28.1 billion for more red-tagging, harassment, threats and killings,” Castro said.