A civil society organization has urged Congress to ensure the full passage of the Department of Education’s P961.3 billion budget for 2026.
The allocation is part of the proposed P6.7-trillion national budget that was recently approved by the bicameral conference committee.
Congress is expected to ratify the 2026 budget and transmit it to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Dec. 29.
E-Net Philippines said lawmakers must “protect these agreed budget levels and ensure their full passage in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA)—without further cuts, reallocations or erosion of critical education programs.”
The group added that “a near-P1-trillion education budget is a milestone—but its value will be measured by impact, not size. Protect these budgets. Pass them in the GAA.”
E-Net Philippines emphasized the P13.9 billion increase for school-based feeding programs, noting it is crucial for “addressing hunger, improving attendance, and strengthening learning outcomes.”
“These gains must be preserved in the GAA and implemented with integrity, ensuring they reach the learners and communities who need them most,” the organization said.
The group also called for transparency, participatory monitoring, and accountability to make sure inclusive and equity-focused programs reach the intended beneficiaries.
E-Net Philippines highlighted programs for learners with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, Muslim learners, out-of-school youth, adult learners, and children in poor communities.
“These programs are essential to addressing systemic exclusion and must not be treated as expendable during the final stages of budget approval,” the organization said, adding that teacher welfare provisions should also be maintained.