MANILA — Senator Bam Aquino on Monday praised the Bicameral Conference Committee’s approval of a P1.38-trillion allocation for education under the proposed 2026 national budget, calling it a significant boost for Filipino students and teachers.
Aquino, chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said the approved funding reflects a commitment to strengthening public education and investing in the country’s youth.
The education budget includes P68 billion for classroom construction, P25.6 billion for the School-Based Feeding Program, P67 billion for free tuition in state universities and colleges, and higher funding for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to support students from low-income families.
“This is a victory for Filipino students and teachers, and a fulfillment of our promise to push for sufficient and sustained funding for education,” Aquino said in a statement.
He expressed optimism that the increased allocation would help address long-standing issues such as classroom shortages, learning gaps, and child malnutrition, which continue to affect student performance and outcomes.
Aquino noted that education remains the largest recipient of government funding, in line with the Constitution’s mandate to prioritize the sector.
The 2026 budget allocates funds for the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, among others.
He also thanked key officials and lawmakers involved in the budget process, including Senate President Vicente Sotto III, House Speaker Bojie Dy III, Senate Finance Committee Chair Sherwin Gatchalian, and House Appropriations Committee Chair Mikaela Suansing.
Aquino said public scrutiny played a key role in ensuring that education funds were not reduced during bicameral deliberations. However, he stressed that oversight remains essential to guarantee proper use of the budget.
“Our work is not over,” Aquino said. “We must ensure that these funds truly go to education and not to corruption.”
The reconciled 2026 national budget is set to be ratified by both chambers of Congress and sent to the President for approval before year-end.