The Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking a PHP40-million budget for the newly created Negros Island Region (NIR) next year.
In a press conference Sunday, Undersecretary Fatima Lipp Panontongan said the agency has already submitted an amendment to the House of Representatives to ensure a dedicated allocation for DepEd-NIR. The budget will cover salaries, school maintenance, operating expenses, and capital outlay.
Panontongan explained that when the 2025 national budget was finalized, NIR was still in transition, with many agencies operating under funds from their former regions. The new region includes Negros Occidental (formerly under Western Visayas), and Negros Oriental and Siquijor (previously under Central Visayas).
She said the allocation for DepEd-NIR will be comparable to those of the DepEd offices in Central and Western Visayas.
Panontongan represented Education Secretary Sonny Angara at the National Teachers’ Month-Visayas celebration, attended by around 2,000 teachers and DepEd officials. In a video message, Angara assured teachers of full support, highlighting an 18% budget increase for 2025.
He said most of the funds will go to personnel services, including promotions for teachers and school heads, as well as the hiring of administrative and project development officers to ease teachers’ workloads.
