The enrolled 2026 national budget has allocated P2.9 billion for the rollout of a School-Based Mental Health Program and the creation of a Learner Wellness Division, according to Senator Win Gatchalian on Saturday.

Gatchalian said funding supports the implementation of the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act (Republic Act No. 12080), a measure he authored and sponsored in the Senate. 

The law mandates the development and strengthening of school-based initiatives aimed at promoting the mental health and overall well-being of learners.

Under the law, the School-Based Mental Health Program is tasked with addressing the mental health concerns of students, including preventive measures to protect learners’ welfare in school settings.

“Kinikilala natin ang bigat at agarang pangangailangan na tugunan ang mga suliranin sa mental health ng mga kabataan. Kaya bahagi ng makasaysayang pondong inilaan natin para sa sektor ng edukasyon ang pagtaguyod sa mental health at kapakanan ng ating mga mag-aaral (We recognize the seriousness and urgency of addressing the mental health challenges faced by the youth. That is why promoting the mental health and well-being of our learners is part of the historic funding we have allocated for the education sector),” said Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

The implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law also provide for the establishment of a Learner Wellness Division under the Bureau of Learner Support Services. 

The new division will be responsible for setting annual targets for the law’s implementation, including the establishment of school mental health offices and care centers nationwide.

It will also oversee the creation and filling of necessary plantilla positions to ensure the effective delivery of mental health services in basic education institutions.

Gatchalian stressed that the allocation underscores the government’s commitment to integrating mental health support into the education system, recognizing its critical role in learners’ academic performance and overall development.