The bicameral conference committee (Bicam) reconciling the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 has approved a significant P86.8-billion increase for the Department of Education (DepEd).
This major augmentation raises the agency’s final budget allocation for the year to P961.3 billion.
The funding increase was finalized on the first day of the bicameral panel’s open deliberations on the budget measure, with lawmakers prioritizing infrastructure and essential student services.
Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Suansing, who heads the House finance committee, detailed the primary beneficiaries of the added funds.
The largest portion, an increase of P57.3 billion, was allocated to the Basic Education Facilities Program.
This allocation is expected to facilitate the construction of at least 35,000 new classrooms across the country in 2026, aiming to address the persistent shortage of school facilities.
The bicam panel also approved a P13.9-billion increase for the school-based feeding program.
This boost is set to extend the feeding duration for students from the current 120 days to a total of 180 days.
Funding for essential instructional materials was also augmented, with an P8.3-billion increase dedicated to textbooks and related resources.
This brings the total allocation for textbooks and instructional materials to P19.5 billion, specifically targeting the shortage of books and supplies in public schools.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, head of the Senate’s finance panel, noted that the total budget for the entire education sector now stands at P1.37 trillion, representing 4.5 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Gatchalian also pointed to other improvements, including augmented funding for State Universities and Colleges and a P1-billion allotment to the Local Government Support Fund to provide financial assistance to lower-class municipalities.