Senate backs DepEd's largest budget in history

The Senate on Monday, Nov. 24, rallied behind the Department of Education (DepEd) and its leadership under Secretary Sonny Angara, approving the agency's proposed P1.044-trillion budget for 2026.

- By HANNAH L. TORREGOZA and MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT

The amount is considered the largest in the country's history, as senators commit toward resolving longstanding issues plaguing the basic education system.

The figure represents a 12.65-percent increase from the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and reflects an additional P77.66-billion compared to the House of Representatives' approved version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

The increase also reinforces the Senate and the agency's commitment to President Marcos' order for the government to prioritize learning recovery, safe and modern school environments, and equitable access to resources for all learners, especially in underserved and remote communities.

"Every peso added to the budget is a vote of confidence in our direction," Angara said during the Senate plenary hearing. "It signals that Congress and the people expect us to deliver—and we intend to meet that expectation with transparency, urgency, and integrity." Angara said several major education programs were reinforced under the Senate version of the GAB.

Key education programs

Among the key education programs that received a major boost include:

Textbook and Learning Madoubled from terials Fund ₱11.16 billion (in the NEP version) to ₱29.29 billion in the Senate version