In her latest PGMN episode, Anchor Ginelle Sequitin examined the Philippines’ education spending as allocations exceed ₱1 trillion annually, the largest share of the national budget, alongside current measures under Education Secretary Sonny Angara focused on procurement, transparency, and classroom delivery.
Watch the full episode here:
For 2025, the Department of Education (DepEd) received around ₱1.055 trillion, with the proposed 2026 allocation estimated at ₱1.224 trillion, equivalent to nearly 4 percent of gross domestic product.
Recent adjustments include the application of earlier quality evaluation under the New Government Procurement Act (RA 12009), allowing learning materials to be assessed prior to supplier selection, as well as updated pre-selection processes for textbooks and teacher manuals aligned with curriculum requirements.
DepEd has also opened operational data through Project BUKAS, releasing datasets on enrollment, facilities, and personnel, including geotagged information used to identify classroom shortages and support planning.
Classroom construction is being expanded through partnerships with local government units and the private sector, with LGUs leading implementation while DepEd sets priorities and conducts oversight.
Public schools continue to report classroom congestion, delayed textbook distribution, and heavy teacher workloads.
“Not blind trust. Not blind rage. But informed public engagement,” Sequitin said.
Her report traces recurring vulnerabilities across administrations in textbook procurement, digital systems, and infrastructure delivery.
During the Arroyo administration, procurement concerns were raised over large textbook and ICT contracts. Under Aquino, the K–12 rollout expanded procurement volume, with the Commission on Audit flagging ₱608 million in potentially misaligned textbooks and ₱254 million worth of learning materials with errors.
Under Duterte, DepEd’s budget reached ₱788 billion by 2022, alongside a ₱2.4 billion laptop procurement that drew Senate scrutiny over possible overpricing exposure. Audit findings also cited ₱10.183 billion in unliquidated cash advances and ₱12.3 billion in notices of suspension and disallowance.
Under the current administration, DepEd faced questions over ₱612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds, examined in House proceedings due to documentation issues. Audit reports also identified ₱1.064 billion in digital systems classified as unusable or incomplete.
Infrastructure gaps remain, with an estimated 165,000 classroom shortage nationwide and around 220,000 classrooms requiring major repair. Annual construction averages 6,000 classrooms, below the estimated 11,000 needed each year.
DepEd data shows an increase in approved textbook titles, from 27 over ten years to 105 within one year, following adjustments in procurement processes.
DepEd also maintains internal reporting channels and accountability mechanisms for personnel.
Sequitin’s report follows how education funds move across these systems, using audit findings and public records to map how one of the government’s largest annual budgets is implemented.
