PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2025 on Monday, allocating a total of P1.05 trillion to the education sector — the highest among all sectors.

The prioritization of education aligns with Article XIV, Section 5(5) of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates that the State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education.

Following education, other major allocations include the Department of Public Works and Highways (P1.007 trillion), Department of National Defense (P315.1 billion), Department of the Interior and Local Government (P279.1 billion), Department of Health (P267.8 billion), and Department of Agriculture (P237.4 billion).

Other significant allocations include the Department of Social Welfare and Development (P217.5 billion), Department of Transportation (P123.7 billion), Judiciary (P64.0 billion), and the Department of Justice (P42.2 billion).

President Marcos also vetoed P194 billion worth of projects, citing their inconsistency with the administration’s programmed priorities.

The GAA signing took place on Monday morning.