Rep. George Arnaiz (Neg. Or., 2nd District) said he hopes that President Benigno Aquino III will make good his promise to increase the budget of the Department of Education by six percent next school year.

In yesterday’s turnover of a two-classroom building of the Dumaguete City High School in Barangay Calindagan, Arnaiz said there is need for additional funds to construct more school buildings, and hire new teachers to address the ever-increasing student population.

The need for additional facilities is compounded by the implementation of the K to 12 program, he added.

Arnaiz is pushing for an increase in the DepEd budget of up to 20 percent because the ideal 23 percent is unreachable and will mean that other government agencies will not get their shares.

The budget hearings will start after the State of the Nation Address of Aquino on July 23.

Meanwhile, Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo said more than P32 million worth of infrastructure projects have been allotted for the 30 barangays of Dumaguete City under the annual investment plan.*JG

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