DepEd has enough funds to convert SPED centers to ILRC
The budget granted the Department of Education (DepEd) will be enough to convert Special Education (SPED) centers into Inclusive Learning Resource Centers for Learners with Disabilities (ILRC), Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said.
The bicameral conference committee report on the 2023 national budget carried Gatchalian’s proposal to add PHP64 million to DepEd’s PHP96-million budget for such purpose.
It also carried his proposal to allocate PHP100 million for instructional materials for learners with disabilities.
“Magandang balita para sa ating mga learner with disabilities na nakapaglaan tayo ng pondo para sa mga programang sumusuporta sa kanila. Patuloy nating titiyakin na pagdating sa dekalidad na edukasyon at sa patuloy na pagbangon ng ating bansa mula sa pandemya ng Covid-19, hindi mapag-iiwanan ang mga learner with disabilities,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
He said funding for learners with disabilities aligns with the government’s mandate to implement Republic Act No. 11650 or Instituting a Policy of Inclusion and Services for Learners with Disabilities in Support of Inclusive Education Act, which was signed into law this year.
Under the law, DepEd and local government units shall initially establish and maintain at least one ILRC in every city and municipality.
The law also mandates that all existing SPED Centers shall be converted to and renamed as ILRCs.
