“This is a historic investment in education and a clear statement of our priorities,” Senator Win Gatchalian said, noting that education will receive the largest share of the 2026 national budget. 

The Bicameral Conference Committee-approved 2026 budget allocates ₱1.38 trillion to education, or 4.5% of GDP –meeting the UNESCO benchmark for the first time.

“We are investing not just in numbers, but in classrooms, nutrition, and learning materials,” Gatchalian said. The Department of Education will receive ₱961 billion, including ₱85 billion for basic education facilities and the construction of 35,000 new classrooms.

The budget also provides ₱25.6 billion for the School-Based Feeding Program, covering all Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners for 200 days, and ₱19.5 billion to ensure complete textbooks and instructional materials for learners.

“From basic education to higher education and skills training, we are strengthening the entire learning pipeline,” Gatchalian said. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will receive ₱47.7 billion, including seed funds for new medical schools in state universities and colleges.

The bicam-approved budget also allocates ₱26 billion for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), including funding for the Training for Work Scholarship Program, which aims to train 190,000 Filipinos in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and the creative industries.