Gatchalian: P1.3T education budget to fund more teachers, expanded feeding program

Senator Win Gatchalian on Monday said the record P1.3 trillion allocation for the education sector under the proposed 2026 national budget will bring immediate benefits to public school learners through the hiring of more teachers and tutors, as well as the expansion of the School-Based Feeding Program.

Under the proposed 2026 budget, P42 billion has been allocated for the creation of new school personnel positions. Of this amount, P29 billion will be used to fill more than 32,000 new teaching positions nationwide to address teacher shortages and reduce class sizes in public schools.

An additional P9 billion has been earmarked to ensure that all public schools will have tutors for the implementation of the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program. The initiative aims to provide targeted academic support to learners who are struggling to keep up with their lessons.

The budget also sets aside P25.6 billion for the School-Based Feeding Program, significantly expanding both its coverage and duration. With the increased funding, the number of feeding days will be extended from 120 to 200.

The program will now cover all Kindergarten and Grade 1 learners, while continuing to provide nutritional support to wasted, severely wasted, stunted, and severely stunted learners from Grades 2 to 6.

“Ilan sa mga agarang epekto ng makasaysayang pondong inilaan natin para sa sektor ng edukasyon ang pagpapalawak sa School-Based Feeding Program at pagkakaroon ng mga dagdag na guro, pati na rin mga tutors para sa ARAL Program na tutulong sa ating mga mag-aaral na nahihirapan sa kanilang mga aralin (Some of the immediate effects of the historic funding we allocated to the education sector include the expansion of the School-Based Feeding Program and the addition of more teachers, as well as tutors for the ARAL Program who will help our students who are struggling with their lessons),” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, said these measures are expected to immediately improve learning outcomes and student well-being, particularly among the most vulnerable public school learners.