The Senate Committee on Finance will exercise strict oversight to ensure the proper and effective use of the record P1.35-trillion education budget for 2026, its chairperson, Sherwin Gatchalian, vowed on Wednesday.

The allocation, approved under the General Appropriations Act recently signed by the President, is equivalent to 4.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

It marks the first time the Philippines has met the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization benchmark of allocating 4 to 6 percent of GDP to education.

“Allocating a large budget for education is an important step, but it is equally important to make sure that these funds are used properly for the benefit of our students and teachers,” Gatchalian said.

A significant portion of the 2026 education budget includes ₱85 billion for accelerated classroom construction nationwide to address classroom shortages.

The budget also provides P25.6 billion to expand the School-Based Feeding Program, increasing the number of feeding days from 120 to 200 to help improve student nutrition and attendance.

Another P37.4 billion has been allocated for the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, also known as the Free College Law, which covers tuition and other school fees for students in state universities and colleges.

Gatchalian said the Senate will closely monitor the implementation of these programs to ensure funds are spent as intended and deliver measurable results for the education sector.