Bacolod: The Department of Education (DepEd) is pushing for a PHP40-million budget for the Negros Island Region (NIR) next year. In a press conference here Sunday, Undersecretary Fatima Lipp Panontongan said they are making sure the DepEd-NIR will have its own dedicated budget after it has transitioned to a new region.

According to Philippines News Agency, the budget amendment has been submitted to the House of Representatives to ensure dedicated funding for NIR, covering salaries, personnel services, school maintenance, and other operating expenses and capital outlay. Panontongan highlighted that DepEd-NIR was in the midst of a transition when the 2025 budget was being finalized, and during this period, many agencies operated on budgets from their previous regions.

The NIR includes Negros Occidental, previously part of Western Visayas, and Negros Oriental and Siquijor, which were part of Central Visayas. Panontongan noted that the DepEd-NIR budget would be comparable to those of the DepEd offices in Central and Western Visayas.

Representing Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Panontongan spoke at the National Teachers' Month-Visayas leg celebration attended by approximately 2,000 DepEd officials, teachers, and staff from Central, Western and Eastern Visayas, and NIR. Angara, in a video message, assured teachers of full support to help them fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

Additionally, Angara addressed a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., stating that an unprecedented number of teachers and school heads would be promoted. He added that the 18-percent increase in the agency's budget would predominantly support personnel services and the hiring of administrative and project development officers to assist teachers.