The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to advance key education reforms following the Senate’s approval of an increased 2026 budget to improve learning outcomes.

The increase reinforces President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s instruction for the government to prioritize learning recovery, safe and modern school environments, and equitable access to resources for all learners — especially those in poor and remote communities.

During the Senate plenary hearing, Education Secretary Sonny Angara noted that several major education programs were reinforced under the Senate version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which pegs DepEd’s 2026 budget at P1.044 trillion. 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-approved GAB.

Angara noted that the 2026 budget, once enacted, will accelerate the wave of reform measures under its long-term roadmap for access, accountability, learning quality, and future-readiness.

“Every peso added to the budget is a vote of confidence in our direction,” Angara said.
“It signals that Congress and the people expect us to deliver — and we intend to meet that expectation with transparency, urgency, and integrity," the DepEd chief added.

The Senate version significantly increased allocations across key learning and support programs. Funding for learning resources rose from P11.16 billion (NEP 2026) to P29.29 billion, enabling DepEd to produce over 79 million learning materials, develop new titles, and expand supplementary reading materials for early grades.

The School-Based Feeding Program likewise increased from P11.77 billion (NEP 2026) to P28.66 billion, allowing DepEd to serve 4.49 million learners — all Kinder to Grade 1 students and severely wasted or wasted Grade 2 to Grade 6 learners.

The Disaster Preparedness and Response Program surged from P665 million (NEP 2026) to P3.77 billion, covering emergency operations centers, additional micro weather stations, clearing operations in over 4,227 schools, and the construction of temporary learning spaces.

The Basic Education Facilities budget jumped from P28.06 billion (NEP 2026) to P85.41 billion, funding 25,527 new classrooms, repairs for 11,886 rooms, and the completion of additional school buildings, helping relieve classroom shortages.

DepEd’s 2026 budget also strengthens personnel support through funding for 323,916 new teaching items, 6,000 school principal items, 10,000 Administrative Officer II positions, 5,000 PDO I posts, expanded laptop provision for teachers, and increased allocations for personnel benefits including relocation allowances.

The Senate version retains the entire budget for the nationwide ARAL program, ensuring compensation for 98,401 tutors.

Other programs that gained higher allocations include the Last Mile Schools Program (P5.25 billion), Human Resource Development (P4.66 billion), Alternative Learning System (P897 million), and the Electrification of Schools under NEA (P3.67 billion), along with increased funding for inclusive education initiatives such as Indigenous Peoples Education (P154.44 million), Special Needs Education (P1.04 billion), and the Madrasah Education Program (P521.61 million).

DepEd said the strengthened investments will be matched with enhanced accountability and transparent implementation as part of the agency’s 5-Point Reform Agenda.

“The expanded budget gives us the room to fix what needs fixing,” Angara said.
“It also reflects the confidence placed in the reforms we are pushing forward — and we intend to justify that confidence with clear results," the DepEd chief added.