Funds for DepEd key programs rise in Senate's proposed 2026 budget

The Department of Education (DepEd) is keen on advancing key education reforms as funds for several programs have significantly increased in the proposed budget for next year pending before the Senate.

During the Senate plenary hearing, Angara highlighted that several major education programs were reinforced under the Senate version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB), which allocates P1.044 trillion to the agency.

This represents a 12.65% increase from the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and reflects an additional P77.66 billion compared to the House version of the budget. 

Angara said the 2026 budget, once enacted, would "accelerate the wave of reform measures under its long-term roadmap for access, accountability, learning quality, and future-readiness."

"Every peso added to the budget is a vote of confidence in our direction," Angara said. 

"It signals that Congress and the people expect us to deliver—and we intend to meet that expectation with transparency, urgency, and integrity," he added. 

Funds for textbook and learning materials were doubled, from P11.16 billion (NEP 2026) to P29.29 billion in the Senate version, enabling DepEd to produce more than 79 million learning resources. This should also enable the agency to develop new titles and expand supplementary reading materials for early grades. 

The school-based feeding program's budget, meanwhile, rose from P11.77 billion (NEP 2026) to P28.66 billion, allowing DepEd to serve 4.49 million learners. 

As for disaster response and school safety systems, budget also increased from P665 million (NEP 2026) to P3.77 billion, covering emergency operations center, additional micro weather stations, clearing operations in more than 4,227 schools, and construction of temporary learning spaces.

Earmarked funds for basic education facilities also increased from P28.06 billion (NEP 2026) to P85.41 billion, funding 25,527 new classrooms, repairs for almost 11,886 rooms, and the completion of unfinished school buildings, among others, to relieve classroom shortages in years.

The DepEd's 2026 budget also strengthened personnel support through funding for 323,916 new teaching items, 6,000 school principal items, 10,000 Administrative Officer II positions, 5,000 PDO I posts, expanded laptop provision for teachers, and increased allocations for personnel benefits, including relocation allowances.

Other key programs that gained higher allocations include the Last Mile Schools Program (P5.25 billion), Human Resource Development (P4.66 billion), Alternative Learning System (P897 million), and the Electrification of Schools under NEA (P3.67 billion), along with increased funding for inclusive education programs such as Indigenous Peoples Education (P154.44 million), Special Needs Education (P1.04 billion), and the Madrasah Education Program (P521.61 million).

"The expanded budget gives us the room to fix what needs fixing," Angara said. 

"It also reflects the confidence placed in the reforms we are pushing forward—and we intend to justify that confidence with clear results," he added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News