Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara (Angara’s Facebook page)

A Mindanao congressman who fumed over the Department of Education's (DepEd) chronic failure to address the country’s shortage of classrooms and textbooks was appeased by the assurance of newly-installed education Secretary Sonny Angara that change was coming to the agency. 

During the House budget hearing on DepEd’s proposed P793.18-billion budget for 2025, Zamboanga del Norte 3rd district Rep. Adrian Michael Amatong blasted DepEd over the persisting problems of the education system, which it had failed to solve despite the availability of funds. 

“Akala ko naman wala tayong pondo, meron pala. Di ko maintindihan anong klaseng katarantaduhan ang nangyayari, bakit nagsa-suffer ang mga bata? Kasi po kung wala tayong pondo, maintindihan ko eh. Pero bakit po DepEd, bakit po, meron naman pala?” visibly irked Amatong told the House Committee on Appropriations. 

(I thought we didn't have any funds, but we do. I don't understand what kind of shenanigans are happening, why are the pupils suffering? Because if we didn't have the funds, I would understand it. But DepEd, we actually have funds, so what happened?) 

He said that these failures that have left many students, especially those in poor districts, without textbooks and other essential learning tools. 

Angara, who took over as DepEd chief from Vice President Sara Duterte only last July 19, gave Amatong the assurance of action that the latter needed to hear. 

“We’ll make sure, Your Honor, that we will coordinate with you. Tayo, we pledge to be fair in the distribution of classrooms. Pagbigyan ninyo sana dahil bago pa po kami. Give us a chance to show, ipakita po namin ‘yun, na makaka-deliver po kami,” said Angara, who has been at the DepEd for only about six weeks. 

(I hope you would give us a chance since we are new. Give us a chance to show, we will show that we can deliver.) 

The Zamboanga congressman acknowledged the magnitude of the challenges awaiting Angara, especially given the apparent mismanagement that occurred his predecessor. 

“Alam kong kailangan mo ng milagro dyan para maitama lahat (I know you need a miracle these to correct all of these problems),” Amatong remarked, recognizing that the new DepEd chief has inherited a department plagued by systemic issues. 

He further emphasized the urgency of addressing the severe classroom shortage, which has left the country short by 160,000 classrooms. 

“We talk about improving the learning environment, about computers and textbooks, but if there are no classrooms, what kind of environment are we providing?” Amatong asked. 

Angara responded by reiterating his commitment to implementing the necessary changes within DepEd. 

“We are committed to making extraordinary efforts to address these concerns. We see the low obligation rates and undelivered resources, and we know this cannot continue. We will change the system,” said the erstwhile senator. 

Amatong expressed hope that with Angara’s leadership, the long-standing issues within DepEd would finally be resolved. 

He also urged Congress to fully fund DepEd’s request for an additional P30 billion for classrooms, underscoring the importance of providing every student with a proper learning environment.