SENATOR  Bam Aquino has fulfilled his campaign promises after the bicameral conference committee approved his push for a higher education budget, the Free College Law and the Tertiary Education Subsidy, as well as financial assistance for students’ Related Learning Experience (RLE) under the 2026 national budget.

The bicam approved a ₱1.38-trillion education budget—the largest in the country’s history—including ₱67 billion for the implementation of Republic Act No. 10931 and additional funding for TES. The budget also allocates ₱68 billion for classroom construction and ₱25.6 billion for the School-Based Feeding Program.

“Ito’y katuparan ng ating mga pinangako noong nakaraang halalan na isusulong ang sapat na pondo para sa edukasyon. Umaasa tayong malaki ang maitutulong nito para tugunan ang mga sari-saring problema sa edukasyon – mula sa pagbawas ng napakalaking classroom backlog at pagtiyak ng mas maayos na nutrisyon para sa mas maraming estudyanteng Pilipino,” Aquino said in a statement.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo kina Senate President Tito Sotto, House Speaker Bojie Dy, Senate Finance Committee Chair Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, House Committee on Appropriations Chair Rep. Mika Suansing, sa ating mga kapwa mambabatas, at sa taumbayan na aktibong tumutok at nagbantay sa proseso upang masiguro na hindi nabawasan ang pondo ng edukasyon sa national budget,” added Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

Also approved was Aquino’s proposal for the addition of ₱500 million under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses of the Higher Education Development Program, specifically allotted for financial support for RLE requirements in Allied Health Sciences programs.

“Napakalaking tulong ng pondong ito sa ating mga estudyante ng nursing at allied health sciences programs na nahihirapan sa mabigat na bayarin sa RLE,” said Aquino.
“Sa pamamagitan nito, mababawasan ang kanilang pasanin sa pag-aaral at makatutulong ito para maabot ang kanilang pangarap na magandang buhay, hindi lang para sa kanilang sarili, kundi para sa kanilang pamilya at mahal sa buhay,” he added.

Under a special provision in the 2026 budget, one-time financial support will be provided to students in allied health sciences programs to cover their expenses for RLE requirements. According to Aquino, low-income students will be prioritized in the guidelines to be issued by the Commission on Higher Education to ensure equitable and efficient implementation.