THE DEPARTMENT of Education is pushing for a record P928.52 billion budget for 2026, a package aimed at easing classroom shortages, addressing child hunger, and equipping teachers with better tools and career opportunities.

Presented before the Senate finance subcommittee, the proposal represents around 4% of the country’s GDP—one of the highest allocations in history for the education sector.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that the budget is designed to produce real, measurable results.

“Malaki pa ang hamon na hinaharap natin sa sektor ng edukasyon, ngunit malinaw ang direksyon — bawat pondo ay para sa mga guro at mag-aaral,” Angara said. “Mahalagang puhunan ang suporta ng ating Pangulo at ng ating mga mambabatas upang tugunan ang mga agarang pangangailangan habang binubuo natin ang matibay na pundasyon ng edukasyon.”

DepEd enumerated their proposed budget for 2026 as follows:

More Classrooms: P13.2 billion is earmarked for nearly 4,900 new classrooms next year to decongest public schools. DepEd is also targeting up to 40,000 classrooms by 2028 through partnerships with local governments and the private sector.

Better Nutrition: P11.8 billion will sustain the School-Based Feeding Program, ensuring that all Kindergarten pupils and undernourished learners from Grades 1 to 6 receive nutritious meals.

Digital Tools for Teachers: P16 billion will fund laptops for teachers and internet access for schools that remain offline, part of a broader effort to modernize the education system.

Career Growth: A landmark P6 billion is allotted for teacher promotions and career progression, expected to benefit around 113,000 teachers and school leaders nationwide.

To promote accountability, DepEd said it will publish monthly dashboards and reports, tracking classrooms built, meals served, and digital tools distributed.

“Ang edukasyon ay hindi natatapos sa isang taon o sa isang budget cycle. Ito ay pangmatagalang laban na nangangailangan ng matatag na suporta ng pamahalaan, ng pribadong sektor, at ng bawat Pilipino,” Angara added.

The Education chief also expressed gratitude to senators for their support, saying he is confident Congress will find fiscal space to prioritize investments that directly impact millions of Filipino families.