SENATOR Panfilo Lacson on Monday pressed the Executive Department to ensure the education sector’s budget remains the top priority, warning against a repeat of last year’s so-called “congressional miracle” that allowed the Department of Public Works and Highways  to overtake it—contrary to constitutional provisions.

During a budget briefing with the Development Budget Coordination Committee, Lacson cautioned the Department of Budget and Management against becoming an “accessory” to any constitutional breach.

“You need to remind legislators not to realign too much because we may be violating the Constitution. When you potentially violate the Constitution, that’s a major issue,” Lacson told Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

For 2025, the DPWH received a P1.007-trillion budget, surpassing the P977.6-billion allocation for the education sector.

The Constitution mandates that education—including the Department of Education, state universities and colleges, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority —receive the highest budgetary priority.

To address the imbalance, the DBM included institutions outside the President’s budget message—such as the Philippine Military Academy, Philippine National Police Academy, and the Philippine Science High School System—under the education sector.

“Why did we allow the DPWH to get a bigger budget than education? I hate to say this, but the DBM became an accessory after the fact, to justify the congressional miracle where the education sector’s budget was slashed,” Lacson stressed.

While Pangandaman maintained that the Constitution does not explicitly define the education sector, Lacson countered that the President’s 2026 budget message clearly limits it to DepEd, SUCs, CHED, and TESDA.

He urged the DBM to “be consistent next time” and closely monitor deliberations, particularly during the bicameral conference committee where major realignments usually happen.

“Watch the progress of the budget bill, especially at the bicameral conference committee. We know that is where the biggest realignments occur,” he said.

Lacson also urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto any budget bill that reduces education’s constitutional priority.

“My suggestion is that if Congress again mangles the budget, the President should veto the amount exceeding the education budget so that the DPWH or any other agency will not end up with a bigger allocation,” he said.

To this, Pangandaman responded: “We agree.”