EDUCATION chief Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara lauded lawmakers for approving amendments to the proposed 2026 budget that would significantly expand resources for priority education programs.
In a statement, Angara said the additional funding would help ensure the delivery of priority programs and advance quality and inclusive education.
He issued such after the House Committee on Appropriations’ Budget Amendments Review Sub-Committee approved increases aligned with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) budget wishlist, including a P22.5-billion boost for Basic Education Facilities to fast-track the construction, completion, and rehabilitation of classrooms, as well as the procurement of school furniture.
The new allocation also authorizes local government units (LGUs) and public-private partnerships (PPP) to serve as partners in classroom construction.
In Filipino, the Education secretary thanked Congress for increasing the budget for education, highlighting its significance in adding more classrooms, chairs, and feeding programs to improve the situation in our schools.
The School-Based Feeding Program also received P1.88 billion in additional funds, on top of the P11.8 billion under the National Expenditure Program. It will provide nutritious meals to millions of learners in public schools and improve learning outcomes.
Other approved amendments include the Alternative Learning System and Flexible Learning Program: P306 million, Special Needs Education Program: P193 million, Indigenous Peoples Education Program: P79.6 million, and the Madrasah Education Program: P26.25 million.
Under the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning Program or ‘ARAL,’ lawmakers also approved additional support for public-school teachers, including P579.5 million for overload pay and P984 million for the compensation of non-DepEd tutors.
The ARAL program is DepEd’s recovery initiative to support struggling learners through tutorial services.
With additional funds in place, Angara underscored the importance of ensuring swift and proper implementation to deliver immediate results.
He said that the key is to properly implement the programs so that DepEd can catch up with delayed projects that will allow learners and teachers to immediately feel the results.