Senator Win Gatchalian formally sponsored the education cluster of the proposed 2026 national budget, highlighting a ₱1.38-trillion allocation that he described as a historic step toward rebuilding the country’s struggling education system.
Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, said the proposed funding level marks a major shift in national priorities, noting that it finally meets global recommendations for public education investment.
“This is the highest in our country’s history,” Gatchalian stated, noting its significance. “For the first time, the budget for education meets the United Nations-mandated benchmark for allotting at least 4% to 6% of GDP to the sector.”
According to the senator, reaching this level of investment allows the government to confront long-standing learning gaps identified by education authorities and the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which released an assessment earlier this year detailing systemic failures across the sector.
“This allows us to meaningfully pursue the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all,” he continued.
The ₱1.38-trillion package forms 20% of the proposed national budget for 2026 and covers basic education, higher education, and various support programs aimed at addressing infrastructure shortages, learning recovery efforts, and access issues. Gatchalian said the allocation is designed to ensure that key recommendations from EDCOM 2 move from paper to implementation.
Under the Senate version of the spending plan, the DepEd receives the largest share, while local government support programs, school feeding initiatives, textbook development, and higher education subsidies also secure expanded funding.
