Senator Bam Aquino- Photo courtesy of Bam Aquino/Facebook.
Senator Bam Aquino on Monday welcomed the P1.35-trillion allocation for education in the 2026 national budget, calling it a major step forward for Filipino students.
Aquino said the increase would allow government to expand classroom construction, strengthen feeding programs, and provide broader support to learners in public schools and state-run colleges.
The education budget, which rose from about P1 trillion in 2025, includes P67 billion for Republic Act No. 10931 or the Free College Law, benefiting students through tuition coverage and allowances under the Tertiary Education Subsidy.
Also funded are P68 billion for classroom construction and P25.6 billion for the School-Based Feeding Program, both significantly higher than last year’s allocations.
The 2026 budget further sets aside P500 million to support Related Learning Experience requirements for students in nursing and allied health sciences.
While thanking groups that helped guard the budget process, Aquino stressed that public vigilance must continue even after its approval.
Congress ratified the P6.793-trillion national budget on December 29, with the spending measure now awaiting President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s signature.