DepEd will get 25% of 2024 budget

The Department of Education will receive 24.93 percent of the P38.75 billion in the proposed 2024 budget for digitalization funds to boost public service, the Department of Budget and Management said on Wednesday.

In a statement, DBM said DepEd is set to receive P9.43 billion in digitalization funds amid the controversial P150 million confidential and intelligence funds for the said agency next year.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman underscored the need to embrace digitalization as the allocation for said initiative marks a 60.6-percent increase from its P24.93 billion funding in 2023.

"Technological advancement has given rise to a growing digital economy which continues to create new forms of work, transforming the employment landscape," Pangandaman said.

"Hence, investing in the digitalization of the bureaucracy is crucial not only in enhancing its efficiency but also in generating quality jobs for Filipinos," she added.

Pangandaman added that keeping updated on technology and maximizing its uses are in line with the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s whole-of-government approach to connect the entire bureaucracy digitally — not only to cut red tape but likewise to generate employment in the expanding digital economy.

Aside from DepEd, several other government agencies will receive the ICT and digitalization budget.

These agencies include the Department of Justice (P5.55 billion), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (P5.34 billion for ICT program-related expenditures), the Department of Finance (P3.15 billion), the Department of Interior and Local Government (P2.60 billion); and National Economic and Development Authority (P2.08 billion).

The Judiciary (Supreme Court, Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals) will also receive P1.44 billion for its digitalization budget.

The Department of National Defense (P1.12 billion), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (P913 million), and Other Executive Offices (P890 million) will also receive its share.

Meanwhile, a total of P990.631 million will be allocated to the ICT Systems and Infostructure Development, Management, and Advisory Program of the DICT.

Further, the National Government Data Center Infrastructure Program, which will get P1.67 billion, aims to reduce government spending by providing resources to government agencies either through colocation or cloud services.

In addition, the DICT's National Government Portal, which will have an allocation of P302.86 million, is intended to further streamline public service by connecting all government departments to a single website.

Another DICT program, the National Broadband Plan, will receive a budget of P1.50 billion to improve internet speed and allow affordability across the country.

A separate P2.5 billion will fund the Free Wi-Fi Connectivity in Public Places and SUCs program, with a target of 50 broadband sites in 82 provinces.