Bam: Make education's budget 'highest ever' to address problems

Senator Bam Aquino on Monday appealed to the executive and legislative branches of government to allocate the education sector the “highest budget ever” in the country’s history in order to address the long-standing problems in the education system. 

Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said this after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in his fourth State of the Nation Address, assured that education remains the most urgent priority of his administration. 

“Well, makikita natin ‘yan sa budget. Nu'ng isang araw, nanawagan na nga tayo na itaas ang budget ng edukasyon, gawin natin itong highest ever sa ating kasaysayan para matugunan ang mga iba’t ibang problema,” the senator said in an Unang Balita interview.

(Well, we can see that in the budget. The other day, we have called to raise the education budget and make it the highest ever in our history to address the various problems.) 

“Babantayan ng committee on [basic] education ‘yung mga pangakong ‘yan. Of course natutuwa naman tayo na gagawing priority ang edukasyon sa mga susunod na mga taon pero kailangang bantayan, kailangang masigurado na ‘yung binabanggit sa SONA nangyayari talaga,” he added. 

(The Committee on Basic Education will monitor those promises. Of course we are happy that education will be made a priority in the coming years but we need to watch closely and ensure that what is mentioned in the SONA is actually happening.) 

The 1987 Constitution indicates that the State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to the education sector.

Marcos, during his presidential address on July 28, vowed aggressive actions to address the learning crisis confronting the Philippine education sector, seeking to create a lasting impact for Filipino students, teachers, and families.

The President acknowledged issues such as widespread learning poverty, high dropout rates, and persistent gaps in reading, math, and science proficiency.

Aquino had previously stressed that everyone should work together for education, when asked by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada if he is already supporting the leadership of Marcos. 

‘Education budget’

Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian, in a press conference later on Monday, affirmed that the 2026 national budget will prioritize the education sector. 

“‘Yung 2026 budget ay ipa-prioritize namin ang education. This will be an education budget. Napakinggan rin natin sa Pangulo natin at doon sa speech niya, malaking portion ay naka-dedicate sa education,” Gatchalian said. 

(We will prioritize education in the 2026 budget. This will be an education budget. We heard the President in his SONA that a big portion of the national budget should be dedicated to education.) 

“So, pipilitin naming lumampas ng 4% of our GDP ang education. Right now, nasa mga 3.8, 3.9 [percent] tayo at may mga times in the past na umabot na tayo ng 4% pero bumababa. So this 2026, pipilitin namin maging 4% of GDP ang education budget,” he added. 

(So, we will try to make the budget of education exceed 4% of our GDP. Right now, we are at about 3.8 or 3.9 [percent] and there were times in the past when we reached 4%, but it decreased. So this 2026, we will strive to make the education budget become 4% of GDP.) 

Senate majority

Aquino also pointed out that he remains “independent” in terms of political alignment despite deciding to join the Senate majority bloc in order to secure the chairmanship of the basic education committee. 

“Pareho pa rin kasi ‘yung national alignment ‘no. Hindi tayo sumama sa administrasyon o sa oposisyon. We remain independent pero sa Senate, ‘yung dynamics po diyan, iba talaga. Kaya parehas pa rin ang ating national political alignment, pero sa Senate nag-mayorya tayo para sa education committee,” he explained. 

(Our national alignment is still the same. We did not join the administration or the opposition, we remain independent. But the dynamics in the Senate are really different. So our national political alignment remains, but in the Senate we decided to be in the majority for the education committee.)

Joining Aquino in the Senate majority bloc is his ally, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, who has also been given the chairmanship of the committee on agriculture.

Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros, remained in the minority bloc led by Senate minority leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News