MANILA, Philippines — The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines is urging lawmakers to remove a proposed P107.4-billion flood-control allocation from the 2027 national budget and redirect it to address the country’s classroom shortage.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio raised the issue as the House began deliberating the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget on Aug. 17.
Tinio questioned the government’s 2027 plan: 700 new classrooms for 2027 against 1,250 flood-control projects, even as the nation grapples with a 160,000 classroom shortage across the country.
“The administration committed to building 40,000 classrooms before its term ends, but how will that happen if only 700 are targeted for next year?” Tinio asked.
ACT Chairperson Ruby Bernardo criticized the proposed classroom construction target, saying the country’s classroom shortage could be significantly higher than the conservative estimate of 160,000 when classrooms needing rehabilitation and reconstruction are included.
Bernardo said the actual classroom need could reach 250,000 when accounting for structures requiring rehabilitation. She noted Department of Education’s (DepEd) total funding would drop 5.3%, with education’s share of gross domestic product (GDP) falling from 4.4% to 3.95%.
Bernardo called for education funding at least equal to 6% of GDP.
During the budget deliberations, Tinio questioned the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) about budget insertions and the existence of a “Leadership Fund”.
He noted that only 113 of the 197 DepEd Schools Divisions Offices have flood-control projects listed in the proposed budget.
Tinio asked about the P69.4-billion in flood-control funds lodged under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Office, asking whether it constitutes part of an alleged “Leadership Fund.” DBM denied both claims, according to ACT.
Tinio flagged the recurring practice of padding allocations for foreign-assisted projects under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and DPWH, as well as the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund and Pension and Gratuity Fund.
These allocations, he said, could provide fiscal space for congressional insertions, citing a previous instance in 2023 when P127 billion was carved out from DOTr and DPWH foreign-assisted project budgets.
Tinio also cited a similar budget maneuver involving the Local Government Support Fund, which he referred to as “LGU Pork.”
ACT recommends halting flood-control funding until corruption concerns are resolved and amending the proposed 2027 budget to address the country’s education crisis.(davaotoday.com)
