The Essence of Budget Cycle in DepEd

The budget cycle is the sequence of events on how budget for DepEd is made. It has four phases which are the budget preparation, budget legislation/authorization, budget execution and budget accountability. Budget preparation occurs on the months of December to April. It is the issuance of the budget call and the submission of National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the House of Representatives. Budget legislation is the budget hearing of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) in the senate and congress on the months of June onwards. Once the GAB is approved by the president, it will become the General Appropriations Act (GAA). Budget execution happens the whole budget year after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) releases the funds. Budget accountability happens always in the sense that funds/money is being used every day. In the process of budget accountability, DBM conducts a review of the agencies they’ve given funds.

                Without this formal process, the budget may be lost on its track and it may not go to the right hands. Moreover, if the process is being altered, it is not a cycle anymore. DBM can’t release money if the President didn’t sign the GAB. It will not be a GAA if it hasn’t underwent hearings as GAB.

                Teachers can benefit from the budget cycle if they receive the school’s MOOE and most importantly if they get their monthly salaries.