MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) will receive a total budget of PhP 961.3 billion for 2026, marking an increase of PhP 86.8 billion from the National Expenditure Program (NEP), the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) said.

A large portion of the increase is allocated to infrastructure through the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF), which gained PhP 57.3 billion to support the construction and rehabilitation of around 34,000 classrooms next year.

Direct learner support programs also saw significant boosts. The School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) is allotted PhP 25.6 billion, intended to expand feeding from 120 to 180 days, with the Senate version extending it to 200 days for kindergarten and Grade 1 learners. The program also aims to benefit local farmers and fishers by enabling direct purchases from communities, bypassing public bidding.

Funding for textbooks and instructional materials rose by PhP 8.3 billion, bringing the total to PhP 19.5 billion. Teacher welfare and modern learning services remain a priority, covering honoraria for teaching overload, overtime pay, terminal leave, and relocation allowances. The DepEd Office of the Secretary alone was approved a budget of PhP 958.7 billion.

Education advancement programs also received funding, including PhP 5.674 billion for the Basic Education Curriculum to enhance programs such as ARAL, and PhP 16.8 billion for digitalization, including internet services and laptops to ensure nationwide Wi-Fi access in schools.

EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee credited Sen. Win Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, for advancing the 2026 General Appropriations Bill as an “education budget.”

“The finalization of the DepEd budget at a landmark 961.3 billion pesos reflects a monumental collaborative effort, and we must recognize the focused determination of our Commissioner, Senator Win Gatchalian, in steering crucial allocations through the Senate,” Yee said. “We trust that these efforts will materialize into genuine reforms for every Filipino learner.”