DepEd funded P500M for school safety, security

A total of P500 million was added to the proposed budget of the Department of Education (DepEd) for 2027 to boost safety and security efforts after recent school shootings.

The budget increase came after the Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee (BARSc) acknowledged that school safety and security received zero funding in the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing pushed for the allocation, noting that while it was more important that incidents of school shootings were prevented, the government still had the responsibility to prepare for the worst.

“We know what is happening in our schools; it may not be what we want to happen, but we need to be prepared for the possibility of school shootings and violence and potential threats to the safety of our students,” Suansing said during the special panel’s hearing.

P300-M cut

The lawmaker noted that DepEd’s initial proposal for the effort was P800 million; however, her formal proposal was a reduced P500 million.

House Deputy Speaker Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez supported Suansing’s bid as he explained that one of the recent incidents of school violence had taken place within his district.

“I support the proposal because recently, a shooting happened in my district. We really did not anticipate it, and there was no budget. It is quite important that hopefully it will not repeat and there would be no more lives lost,” Fernandez stated.

The tragedy that the representative from South Cotabato was referring to was a shooting incident that took place in Banga National High School, which led to the deaths of three individuals and injuries to eight others.

Reports from authorities said that the gunman had used a gun owned by his father — an official for DepEd — and was allegedly influenced online.