Senate prioritizes Education in 2026 Budget Deliberations

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The Senate focused on education during its November 12–13 deliberations on the proposed 2026 National Budget, emphasizing on classroom construction, teacher support, and ongoing education reforms.

This is on Plenary Session No. 29, which assigned the largest allocation of P1.383 trillion to the education sector, covering the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Senator Bam Aquino discussed the Senate Bill No. 1482 or the Classroom-Building Acceleration Program Act (CAP) which creates a system for local government units (LGUs) and private sectors to take part in the construction of classrooms, closing the gap and eventually end the 165,000 classroom backlogs.

Meanwhile, Senator Loren Legarda told her colleagues in the Senate to extend Senate Bill No. 1483 for the duration of Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM ll) for two more years to ensure the quality of the country's learning system.

“We are at a moment when progress is within reach. The work has direction. The coordination is in place. The momentum is real. It is only right that we see it through,” Legarda said. 

The 2026 GAB aims to ease the burden on Filipinos and ensure that the funds spent by the government will be spent with transparency. [F]

via Mary Anne Bernido, Staff Writer