As the review of the 2025 national budget continues, President Marcos pushed for substantial allocations for key programs of the Department of Education (DepEd) as the agency revealed the reduction in its budget for 2025 could worsen the country’s teacher shortage issue.

Marcos said this as he met DepEd officials in Malacañang on Thursday, Jan. 16.

During the meeting, the President reiterated that the education sector remains the administration's priority despite the budget gaps of DepEd's various projects.

"We have to be able to show that that’s (education) the priority," he said.

Congress only approved P737 billion of DepEd's proposed P748 billion appropriations. The allocations were intended for creating new school personnel positions, the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF), and implementing the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP).

According to DepEd, the lower budget for new school personnel positions will "exacerbate the teacher shortage."

It added that the requirements from previous years remain partly addressed, further compromising the delivery of quality education.

The DepEd proposed P12.379 billion for its DCP but was only given P2.43 billion. It said the decrease will affect the delivery of much-needed learner and teacher tools, such as laptops, smart TVs, and satellite-based internet.

As a result, DepEd was forced to cancel about P4 billion out of the P7 billion worth of DCP projects that already underwent early procurement activities.

The reduced BEFF will also affect the construction of school buildings.

Meanwhile, President Marcos concurred with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority's (TESDA) plan to study options for financing its unfunded programs.

While TESDA’s budget increased by P20.73 billion in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) from the previous P18.50 billion in the FY 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), some of its key programs were not funded this year.

This included the creation of an Enterprise-based Training Office and the establishment of a New Regional Office for Negros Island Region.