The Department of Education (DepEd) has warned that it cannot hire more than 14,000 new teachers in 2027 without additional funding from Congress. Secretary Sonny Angara made the statement during a Monday briefing in Manila, highlighting the department’s reduced budget allocation. The DepEd was initially allocated P1.01 trillion for the current year but was cut to P973.40 billion for the 2027 National Expenditure Program. This reduction has raised concerns about the ability to meet the growing demand for educators. Angara emphasized that the funding shortfall could impact the quality and accessibility of education across the country. The department’s request for increased funding remains pending, with officials urging lawmakers to reconsider the budget allocation.