SENATE Committee on Finance Chairperson Grace Poe assured the allocation of P9.9 billion under the proposed 2025 National Budget for the implementation of the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act.

In her committee report on the proposed budget, Poe highlighted that this represents a staggering 106% increase from the 2024 budget following the passage of RA 11997, or the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act.

“We also left intact the budget for education assistance programs and subsidies, and the continuation of free tuition under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Program,” Poe said.

At the same time, the senator confirmed that they funded critical items essential to the education catch-up plan.

“Thanks to the efforts of our staunch education advocate, Vice-Chair Pia Cayetano, may dagdag na pondo tayo para sa DepEd Eight-Week Literacy and Numeracy programs to help close the divide in learning proficiency. We also infused massive funding to DepEd’s budget for textbooks and instructional materials,” the senator explained.

“But even with textbooks and supplies, marami sa ating mga estudyante at guro ang nangangapa pa rin sa dilim. That is why your Senate allocated funding for the electrification of our schools. Thanks to the foresight of Senators Gatchalian and Pia Cayetano,” she added.

For State Universities and Colleges, Poe reported an overall budget increase for institutions of higher learning, most of which was allocated to Colleges of Medicine and Allied Health Programs across the country.

“These institutions of higher learning are incubators of world-changing ideas. This is why this committee also funded some SUC projects, like the Mindanao State University’s Community Advancement through Research-based Extension Services or CARES Project, which aims to capacitate mothers in reading, writing, and arithmetic so that they, in turn, can teach their children,” she stressed.

“Pinupuntahan nito ang mga malalayong barangay sa Mindanao para ‘yung mga nanay ay maturuan kung paano matuturuan ang kanilang mga anak. Maliit na budget lang ito pero napakalaking impact,” the senator added.