THE SENATE Committee on Finance is pushing for a higher allocation for classroom construction and free tertiary education under the endorsed 2026 General Appropriations Bill, aiming to strengthen access to quality education next year.

Sponsored by Senate Committee on Finance Chairman Sherwin Gatchalian, the Senate raised the budget for classroom construction to ₱68 billion, up from the House-approved ₱48.7 billion. The increase comes after an additional 5,000 classrooms were reported damaged by recent typhoons.

This allocation forms part of the ₱992-billion budget of the Department of Education for 2026, which authorizes the agency to build between 19,000 and 27,000 new classrooms nationwide next year.

To support higher education, the Senate also boosted funding for the Tertiary Education Subsidy to ₱48.2 billion, higher than the House version’s ₱43.6 billion. The additional ₱6.6 billion ensures that around 490,000 incoming college students from 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) households can pursue their studies.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority likewise received a higher allocation of ₱25.3 billion, compared to the House’s ₱23.5 billion, with the increase intended to expand training programs in high-demand industries and sectors.

Meanwhile, the budget for state universities and colleges rose to ₱140.2 billion, up from ₱131.7 billion under the House version. The additional funding is expected to enable more students to enroll in public higher education institutions across the country.

According to Gatchalian, the Senate’s adjustments reflect a strong commitment to improving access to education at all levels and addressing infrastructure gaps that continue to hinder learning outcomes.