Have you ever wondered what happens to government education funds that remain unused? I was curious too—and it turns out, there’s an official answer. DepEd Order No. 28, s. 2025 explains how the balances of FY 2024 funds under Republic Act No. 11975 will be redirected to better support schools, teachers, and students.
What Is DepEd Order No. 28, s. 2025 All About?
This new order focuses on the use of balances from Fiscal Year 2024 Program Support Funds (PSFs) that were not spent as planned. Instead of letting these unobligated funds sit idle, the Department of Education (DepEd) is making sure they are reallocated to priority projects within the Learning Systems Strand.
In simple terms, it’s about:
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Recycling unspent education funds.
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Redirecting them to urgent and high-impact needs.
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Avoiding wasted resources while helping schools deliver more.
Why Does This Matter?
Unused funds in education are like books left unopened—they hold value but fail to make an impact. By enforcing these guidelines, DepEd ensures that:
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No budget goes to waste.
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Schools and regions can immediately address urgent learning needs.
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Teachers and learners gain access to better tools, textbooks, and programs.
Fun fact: According to the guidelines, even technical assistants can be hired using these balances to closely monitor how the funds are spent. That’s a move toward transparency and accountability.
Where Will the Funds Go?
DepEd Order No. 28 lays out specific areas where the balances from FY 2024 funds will be channeled. These include:
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Basic Education Curriculum – workshops, teacher support, and new learning resources.
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Flexible Learning Options (FLO) – alternative delivery modes for learners in unique situations.
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Learning Tools and Equipment – essential classroom support like devices and kits.
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Textbooks and Instructional Materials – ensuring up-to-date and sufficient resources.
Another interesting detail: funds already allocated for the ARAL (Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning) Program are excluded from this reallocation to avoid overlap.
How Will It Be Implemented?
The order is very clear on procedures:
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Regional Offices (ROs) must report their actual balances within 15 days.
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Unused funds from discontinued projects will be shifted to other priority projects within the same budget line.
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Excess balances may be pooled or reallocated for maximum efficiency.
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Monitoring will be strengthened with required accomplishment reports.
This shows how fiscal responsibility is being matched with urgency in improving the education system.
Personal Insight
I find this move both practical and necessary. Growing up, I remember times when schools struggled with outdated materials while unused government funds sat untouched. Redirecting balances toward urgent needs feels like a common-sense solution that should have been standard all along.
Final Thoughts
DepEd Order No. 28, s. 2025 makes sure that balances from FY 2024 funds won’t be wasted. Instead, they will be put to good use in supporting teachers, learners, and schools across the country. It’s a reminder that every peso counts in shaping the future of education.
What do you think—should more government agencies adopt this kind of “use it wisely” policy for unspent funds? Share your thoughts below!