SENATE President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian assured that every learner across all grade levels is expected to have a complete set of textbooks for each subject this school year, citing increased government funding aimed at addressing long-standing shortages in instructional materials.

Gatchalian said the 2026 national budget provides sufficient resources to achieve a one-to-one textbook-to-learner ratio nationwide.

The government allocated P19.5 billion this year for textbooks and other instructional materials, a substantial increase from the average annual allocation of P5.475 billion between 2021 and 2025.

According to Gatchalian, ensuring that students have complete textbooks should be given the same level of priority as addressing the shortage of classrooms in public schools.

“Maliban sa pagkakaroon ng sapat na mga silid-aralan, ang pagkakaroon ng kumpletong mga aklat ay isa rin sa mga dapat nating bigyan ng prayoridad para sa ating mga mag-aaral. Ang mga aklat ay pangunahing pangangailangan nila at tungkulin nating tiyakin na hindi na ito magkukulang,” he said.

The senator emphasized the critical role of textbooks in improving learning outcomes, citing findings from the 2024 Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM).

The study found that learners who do not have their own textbooks, or who share them with other students, score an average of five points lower in reading than those with individual copies.

SEA-PLM data also showed that while 52 percent of Grade 5 learners have their own textbooks, 42 percent still share textbooks with at least one other learner, underscoring the need for greater investment in learning resources.

Gatchalian said the increased funding reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening the quality of basic education and ensuring that every student has access to essential learning materials.

He expressed hope that the expanded budget for textbooks would contribute to improved academic performance and equip learners with the tools they need to succeed in school.