Politics · Philippines Bureau
Philippine senators push to restore funding for DepEd's Aral recovery program
Senior lawmakers have called for renewed investment in the Department of Education's Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning initiative during budget hearings. The program aims to help students catch up on learning losses from pandemic disruptions.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Multiple Philippine senators are advocating for the restoration of budget allocations to the Department of Education's Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (Aral) program, signaling legislative support for the student assistance initiative during deliberations on the agency's 2027 fiscal proposal.
The push came during Friday's Senate Committee on Finance hearing on DepEd's budget submission, where Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Senators Bam Aquino and Joel Villanueva raised concerns about the program's funding levels. Their intervention underscores growing parliamentary attention to educational recovery efforts as the country continues addressing learning gaps exacerbated by pandemic-related school closures.
The Aral program was designed to provide remedial instruction and personalized learning support to students who fell behind academically during extended distance learning periods. Lawmakers have flagged the initiative as crucial for ensuring educational equity and helping disadvantaged learners regain academic progress.
The Senate Committee's recommendations on DepEd's budget allocation will likely influence the final 2027 appropriations bill. The legislative action reflects broader congressional commitment to prioritizing education funding amid broader fiscal pressures facing the national government.