The Senate Committee on Finance will exercise rigorous oversight to ensure the proper utilization of the historic ₱1.3 trillion budget for 2026, Senator Win Gatchalian said. 

Under the General Appropriations Act signed by the President, the education sector received a final allocation of ₱1.35 trillion, the equivalent to 4.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). This marks the first time the national budget has met UNESCO’s benchmark of allocating 4 to 6 percent of GDP to education.

“Isang hakbang ang paglalaan natin ng malaking pondo para sa edukasyon, ngunit mahalaga ring matiyak nating magagamit ito nang tama para sa kapakanan ng ating mga mag-aaral at mga guro,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

Key allocations in the 2026 education budget include ₱85 billion to accelerate classroom construction nationwide. Other highlights include the ₱25.6 billion budget that will expand the School-Based Feeding Program to increase the number of feeding days from 120 to 200.

The 2026 budget also allocates ₱37.4 billion for the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education or the Free College Law.

Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OS GATCHALIAN