MANILA — Senator Bam Aquino called on the public to closely monitor the bicameral conference committee proceedings to ensure that the proposed P1.38-trillion allocation for education in the 2026 national budget remains intact.

The bicameral committee, composed of selected members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, is tasked with reconciling differences between their respective budget versions. Aquino noted that in previous years, the committee became a venue for introducing budget increases or cuts, new projects, and special provisions.

“This is really an education budget. Iyon ang panawagan natin. Bantayan natin. I’m expecting that ang sinabi nga dito ay ila-livestream iyong laman ng bicam ay matutuloy. Incumbent iyan sa ating lahat na bantayan,” Aquino, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said.

He added, “Hindi lang iyong media, hindi lang iyong mga pulitiko, iyong taumbayan, bantayan na wala nang slash sa mga budget item na mapupunta sa tao at mapupunta sa tama. Huwag nang dagdagan iyong budget item na alanganin at posibleng magamit lang sa corruption.”

Aquino stressed that sustained public oversight is essential until the President signs the proposed 2026 budget into law.

“Kapag may move or may motion na ma-slash ang education budget, umalma kaagad tayo at ipahiwatig natin na ‘di katanggap-tanggap na babawasan ang budget sa edukasyon,” he said.

Under the Senate version, over P65 billion has been allocated for the construction of 27,000 to 30,000 classrooms, while P27 billion is set aside for the school-based feeding program. The Free College Law, or Republic Act 10931, will receive P37 billion to benefit 5.7 million students in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and private higher education institutions (PHEIs).

An additional P30 billion has been earmarked for student allowances, benefitting 1.5 million underprivileged but deserving students, including 490,000 learners under the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“Over 27 million students po diyan sa K-12 at the tertiary ang mabibigyan po ng tulong,” Aquino said, emphasizing the scale of the proposed education support.