President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday urged government agencies to prioritize education-related projects and initiatives, emphasizing that this is how Filipinos can truly experience the country’s progress.
Speaking at the Philippine Development Forum (PDF) 2025 in Mandaluyong City, the president highlighted the importance of placing quality education at the center of each agency’s agenda.
‘We have achieved significant milestones in improving our country’s education system, but of course, we recognize that we still have a long way to go,’ he said.
‘The goal is clear: a Philippines where every child-regardless of background or circumstance-has access to quality, future-proof education,’ he added.
Marcos urged the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Finance, and all relevant government agencies to ensure that the administration’s top priorities-particularly education-receive adequate funding and support.
‘To the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) and the DepEd (Department of Education), speed up the planning and implementation process so we can meet our target of building and rehabilitating thousands of classrooms by 2028,’ he said. ‘And to the DEPDev, accelerate the review of PPP proposals for school buildings.’
‘No child should be forced to learn in makeshift spaces, and no teacher should be burdened by a system that does not support them,’ he added.
The PDF 2025 is a platform for dialogue between the government and its development partners.
With this year’s theme, ‘Bringing Together Progress for All: Services that Matter, Results that Last,’ the forum aims to promote collaboration on policy and financing priorities, guided by the outcomes of key high-level policy reviews in 2025.
The PDF also provides a venue to address urgent development challenges and explore emerging opportunities./mcm