2026 budget meets UNESCO benchmark on education for first time - Balisacan

The Philippine government’s budget for this year is a strategic roadmap for the country’s economic recovery with the country meeting the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural (UNESCO) benchmark on education for the first time, a top official said Monday.

According to Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, the newly signed 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) remains fully capable of delivering economic and social objectives, in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

Balisacan noted that the P1.34-trillion allocation for education enables the Philippines to meet UNESCO’s benchmark of allocating at least 4% of the gross domestic product (GDP), marking the first time in history.

“This underscores our strong commitment to developing a globally competitive workforce through quality basic education, higher education, and technical-vocational training, complemented by continued investment in upskilling and reskilling,” he said in an emailed statement.

This comes as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier on Monday signed into law the P6.793-trillion budget for 2026, which he said will sustain momentum in education reform, health protection, food security, social security, and job creation.

Balisacan also touted higher spending on health for broad access to quality healthcare for indigent and financially vulnerable Filipinos, and in agriculture with P297.1 billion — the highest allocation in over a decade.

“Overall, the 2026 National Budget reinforces our commitment to transparency, accountability, and prudent fiscal stewardship,” he said.

“Through stronger program convergence and better coordination across agencies, we are ensuring that every peso delivers measurable impact and tangible improvements in people’s lives,” he added. —LDF, GMA Integrated News