EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara expressed optimism for the year ahead as the Department of Education received a record P1.015 trillion in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the first time the Philippines has met the UNESCO benchmark for education spending.

“We are looking at a very promising 2026 for the education sector,” Angara said, highlighting accelerated program rollouts, classroom construction, and enhanced digitalization. “Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating mahal na Pangulo, President Bongbong Marcos, sa kanyang patuloy na suporta sa ating mga mag-aaral at mga guro – dahil dito, mas magiging epektibo at mas mararamdaman ang mga reporma natin ngayong taon.”

Of the total allocation, P85.3 billion is dedicated to addressing the classroom backlog, including PHP65 billion for constructing 24,964 new classrooms and P7.7 billion for repairing existing facilities. DepEd will collaborate with local governments and the private sector through Public-Private Partnerships to ensure faster and more transparent implementation.

To support learning materials, P19.5 billion has been earmarked for textbooks, reflecting a 289-percent increase in procurement over the past year. The DepEd Computerization Program (DCP) will receive PHP10.6 billion to provide reliable internet and digital tools across public schools.

The budget also supports personnel expansion, with P42.4 billion for 32,916 teaching positions, 6,000 Principal I roles, and 10,000 School Counselor Associates. Additional funds include PHP2.2 billion for administrative officers, PHP1 billion for project development officers, and P4.6 billion for teacher training programs.

Angara emphasized that quality education includes learner well-being. P25.6 billion has been allocated to the Expanded School-Based Feeding Program, which will benefit 4.6 million learners, prioritizing Kindergarten, Grade 1, and severely wasted or wasted Grades 2 to 6 students in public schools.

This historic funding sets the stage for accelerated reforms and improved learning experiences nationwide.