HOUSE Basic Education Chairman and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo has expressed his openness to any potential Supreme Court petition questioning the allocation of the Department of Education’s 2025 budget.

Romulo welcomed the initiative, highlighting that it could clarify the constitutional mandate that education should receive the highest budgetary allocation in the national budget.

“I welcome the initiative of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition if they wish to clarify this with the Supreme Court to find out what is meant by education when we talk about the highest budgetary allocation,” Romulo said.

He emphasized that while education encompasses various aspects of schooling and learning, the primary focus should remain on delivering quality education.

Earlier, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition raised concerns that, despite education receiving the largest share of the national budget, a significant portion is often allocated to non-academic expenses such as administrative costs and infrastructure. They are reportedly considering filing a petition to ensure that funding directly benefits teachers and students, particularly in improving curriculum and teacher training.

Romulo stressed the importance of addressing critical issues in education.

“My primary concern is the eye on the ball, and that’s quality education. By quality education, we should be able to fix the curriculum and ensure our teachers get the proper training,” he said.

He also pointed out that the proposed 2025 budget includes provisions for curriculum improvement and teacher training. However, he underscored the need to verify whether these funds are being utilized effectively to achieve the intended outcomes.

Romulo emphasized that, regardless of legal proceedings, the ultimate goal should be ensuring that resources are directed toward initiatives that enhance the quality of education for Filipino students.