2026 Budget signed; Education, health sectors prioritized

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, enacting the national budget into law as Republic Act No. 12314.

During the signing ceremony, Marcos said the approved budget is designed to address public needs while strengthening accountability and transparency in government.

“As we enter this year, let us take this opportunity to start moving forward with difficult but needed reforms in governance – to rebuild the trust in us to strengthen accountability, deliver an honest and effective government to the Filipinos,” he said.

Budget that ‘serves the people’

Marcos said the ₱6.793-trillion national budget aligns with the administration’s medium- and long-term development plans.

“The 2026 national budget shall sustain our education reform, in health protection, in food security, in social security and in job creation,” he said.

Education received the largest share of the budget at P1.34 trillion, which Marcos said will support the creation of teaching and non-teaching plantilla positions in public schools and help address the classroom backlog through nationwide school construction.

Health takes precedence

Marcos said the 2026 GAA provides the health sector with the “largest budget in the history of the country” as the government pushes forward with the implementation of the Universal Healthcare Law.

With an allocation of P448.125 billion, Marcos said the budget aims to ensure access to quality and affordable healthcare.

Of the total health allocation, P1 billion was earmarked for the Department of Health’s universal healthcare fund, which supports the government’s zero-balance billing program. Other components of the healthcare system—including disease surveillance, rapid response mechanisms, and sustainable health financing—also received increased funding.

Budget beefs up PhilHealth

In compliance with the Supreme Court order to return the P60 billion reserve fund of the state health insurer, Marcos said an additional P129.8 billion was allocated to sustain PhilHealth operations.

“These funds shall support preventive health care and the improvement of PhilHealth benefit packages, lowering the out-of-pocket expenses of Filipino families,” he said.

Agri gets nearly P300 billion

The agricultural sector received nearly P300 billion, with funding focused on supporting farmers and fisherfolk through modernization efforts and the expansion of farm-to-market roads aimed at reducing transport costs and post-harvest losses.

Single-digit poverty rate by 2028

Marcos reiterated the administration’s goal of bringing the country’s poverty rate to single digits by the end of his term.

To achieve this, he said the government will strengthen social protection programs to address systemic vulnerabilities and promote inclusive growth.

“The social services sector is provided with more than P270 billion. We will prioritize social services that enhance the quality of life of every Filipino, safeguard the welfare of all sectors, and foster human capital development,” he said.

No patronage under 2026 GAA

Marcos also took a firm stance against patronage in the distribution of financial aid and other forms of assistance under the 2026 budget.

“Politicians shall be barred from the distribution of any financial aid and we shall ensure that the support reaches the intended beneficiaries without patronage. Walang bawas, walang kulang (no reduction, no shortage),” he said.