DBM: PH can’t meet int’l spending standards for education, health

The Philippines can't allocate enough funds for essential services to meet the standards of the country's international and development partners because it would go beyond its budget level.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman made the response when asked by House Deputy Minority Leader Chel Diokno of Akbayan party-list why allocations to education, health, and social protection remain insufficient, while the proposed flood control budget next year stands at P274 billion. 

“The proposed 2026 budget allocates just around 3.5% of the GDP [gross domestic product] for education versus the 4% to 6% recommended by UNESCO...about 2.2% percent for social protection versus the 5.1% of the GDP recommended by the International Labor Organization, and 1% for health as against the 5% percent GDP recommended by the World Health Organization. Bakit po paulit-ulit na parang ang pamumuhunan ng gobyerno natin para sa tao ay kulang?" Diokno said.

(Why is that our investment in our people is always not enough?)  

“Kulang tayo sa edukasyon, kulang tayo sa kalusugan, kulang tayo sa social protection kumpara sa pamantayan ng ibang mga bansa,” Diokno added. 

(We don't invest enough in education, health and social protection based on best practices.) 

Pangandaman responded that while all government agencies are aware of the ideal level of funding and proposed P10.1 trillion worth of budget items for 2026, the fact remains that the government cannot afford to fund them all.   

“Hindi po natin kaya pondohan lahat po itong mga standards na ibinibigay ng mga international at development partners. I think if we will add 5 percent, 4 percent, 3 percent, 2 percent and 1 percent altogether, sosobra na po sa sa budget level po natin. Kasi kailangan po nating i-prioritize din po ‘yung mga programang kailangan po natin pondohan,” Pangandaman said.

(We cannot fund to the levels set by our international and development partners....we would go over budget, so we have to prioritize items that need funding.) 

 “At ‘yan po ay nakapaloob sa Philippine Development Plan at saka sa mga roadmaps ng ating mga departamento. Sa susunod na taon po, ang mga prayoridad po natin, unang-una po ay education. Sinubukan po natin na at least kahit papaano matugunan iyong 4% [of GDP] na kinakailangan para po sa ating basic education at tertiary education. Sinubukan po talaga natin,” he added. 

(We based our proposed budget on the Philippine Development Plan and roadmaps of different departments. Next year, our top priority is education so we tried to meet the 4% . We really tried.)

The Budget chief also said that the budget for health, agriculture and social protection items were all increased from their 2025 allocation in accordance with the Philippine Development Plan and medium-term fiscal framework, alongside infrastructure spending which accounted for 5 to 6% of the GDP.  

Flooding funding for flood control projects?

While there is not enough funding for health, education and social protection programs, Diokno then questioned why the proposed 2026 budget still earmarked P274 billion for flood control projects when no less than President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. said in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) and subsequent announcements that flood control projects are being used by unscrupulous individuals to pocket public funds.  

“On the other hand, there’s P270 billion for flood control projects despite the statements made by the President that a lot of these projects are essentially pork barrel. What accounts for this seeming disparity?” Diokno asked. 

Pangandaman said that the P274 billion was provided for by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).   

“The DPWH provided the figure based on their priority and the formula that they actually formulated when they prepared their budget proposal to the DBM,” she added.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan has said that he will attend the Senate probe into the flood control projects. — BM, GMA Integrated News