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.