Education budget reaches 4% of GDP for the first time, a UNESCO benchmark

The Philippines will allocate 4% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to education in 2026, meeting for the first time the UNESCO benchmark for education spending.

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday confirmed that the proposed P1.224-trillion budget for the education sector under the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) represents a historic milestone in government funding.

The DepEd, which by law receives the lion’s share of the national budget allocation, has been proposed to receive P928.52 billion in 2026.

“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa ating mahal na Pangulo dahil, sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, compliant sa UNESCO standards ang budget ng edukasyon. Patunay ito na nasa pinakamataas na prayoridad ni PBBM ang edukasyon ng ating bansa,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

(We thank our beloved President because, for the first time, the education budget is compliant with UNESCO standards. This proves that education is the highest priority of PBBM for our country.)

He added: “This landmark move is not only an investment in education—it is an investment in the future of our learners, ensuring they receive the highest quality of education possible.”

Breakdown of allocations

Under the proposed 2026 budget, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) will receive P134.99 billion, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) P34 billion, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) P20.24 billion.

DepEd’s proposed budget is 18.9% higher than in 2025, anchored on its 5-Point Reform Agenda. Of this, P115.4 billion will support school operations, the Senior High School Voucher Program, and the School-Based Feeding Program.

The department earmarked P41.6 billion for the construction, repair, and rehabilitation of classrooms under the Basic Education Facilities Fund—intended to address the country’s long-standing classroom shortage.

To strengthen its workforce, DepEd set aside P15.4 billion for additional plantilla positions such as Project Development Officers and Administrative Officers. Another P13.8 billion will go to the DepEd Computerization Program to boost digital learning.

Support for attached agencies

DepEd’s attached agencies will also benefit from the proposed budget: National Museum of the Philippines (P840.9 million), National Academy of Sports (P251.1 million), Teacher Education Council (P207.5 million), Philippine High School for the Arts (P160.7 million), National Book Development Board (P156.6 million), and the National Council for Children’s Television (P72.6 million).

The proposed education budget will undergo scrutiny in Congress in the coming weeks, with DepEd scheduled to defend its allocations before the House of Representatives’ appropriations committee.

If approved, the 2026 budget will mark the first time the Philippines has met international standards on education spending, a move Angara described as a “historic investment in the nation’s future.” 
— BM, GMA Integrated News