President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signs the 2025 General Appropriations Act at Malacañang Palace in Manila on Monday (Dec. 30, 2024). Next year’s government budget is down to P6.326 trillion from PHP6.352 trillion after the President vetoed line items deemed inconsistent with the administration’s priorities. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
The education sector has emerged as the top priority in the 2025 national budget, securing P1.055 trillion after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. trimmed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allocations.
On Monday, Marcos signed into law the 2025 national budget amounting to P6.326 trillion, following vetoes of P194 billion in line items. The original budget proposal was set at P6.352 trillion.
Among the vetoed items were P26.065 billion worth of DPWH projects and P168.240 billion in unprogrammed appropriations.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman confirmed that education now commands the highest budget allocation, as mandated by the Constitution. The funding spans various agencies, including:
- Department of Education (DepEd)
- Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
- Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
- Local Government Academy
- Philippine National Police Academy
- Philippine Public Safety College
- National Defense College of the Philippines
- Philippine Military Academy
- Philippine Science High School System
- Science Education Institute
- State universities and colleges
The DPWH budget was reduced to P1.007 trillion, marking a significant shift in government spending priorities.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto noted the historic milestone of education and infrastructure allocations breaching the trillion-peso mark, describing it as a positive signal for the economy’s growth in 2025.
Other major allocations
Beyond education and infrastructure, the most significant budget allocations for 2025 include:
- Department of National Defense: P315.1 billion
- Department of the Interior and Local Government: P279.1 billion
- Department of Health: P267.8 billion
- Department of Agriculture: P237.4 billion
- Department of Social Welfare and Development: P217.5 billion
- Department of Transportation: P123.7 billion
- Judiciary: P64.0 billion
- Department of Justice: P42.2 billion
Addressing DepEd budget cuts
The administration is working to address the P10-billion cut in the DepEd’s Computerization Program, which aims to bridge the digital divide among students.
Pangandaman assured us that additional revenues or unprogrammed appropriations could augment the education budget.
“If there are additional revenues from the Department of Finance (DoF), we can increase the DepEd budget, specifically for the Computerization Program,” Pangandaman said.
Finance Secretary Recto echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the President’s commitment to prioritizing education.
“The President wants to prioritize additional spending on education. If there are excess revenues, we will immediately allocate those funds to education,” Recto said.
The Department of Education has expressed concern that the reduction in its Computerization Program budget could exacerbate the digital divide, leaving many students without access to crucial learning technologies.
President Marcos’ promise to restore the cuts reflects his administration’s recognition of education as a cornerstone of national development, ensuring Filipino students have the resources needed to succeed in an increasingly digital world.
With these adjustments, the 2025 budget highlights a balance between infrastructure development and human capital investment, underscoring the government’s commitment to fostering long-term economic growth and societal progress.