DepEd gets biggest share of proposed 2027 national budget with P976 billion

The Department of Education (DepEd) remains the biggest recipient in the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, with an allocation of P976 billion, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Tuesday.

“Consistent with the Constitution, the Department of Education remains the largest recipient with P976 billion, reaffirming our commitment to investing in the country’s most valuable resource, our people,” said DBM Acting Secretary Kim Rober during the ceremonial turnover of the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) at the House of Representatives.

The proposed 2027 national budget is P407 billion, or 6%, higher than the 2026 budget.

De Leon said nearly four-fifths, or P316 billion, of the increase will go toward mandatory government obligations, including higher National Tax Allotment for local government units and salary adjustments for government personnel.

Other top priorities

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) gets the second-largest proposed allocation at P644 billion.

De Leon said the proposed DPWH funding reflects the administration’s continued commitment to infrastructure that connects communities, creates jobs, strengthens climate resilience and supports long-term economic growth.

Substantial allocations are also proposed for health, the interior and local government, national defense, transportation, agriculture, social welfare and development, and higher education.

The combined allocation for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and state universities and colleges (SUCs) reaches P176.5 billion.

De Leon said these investments are intended to ensure that more Filipinos have access to quality and affordable higher education.

Taken together, the 10 sectors with the largest allocations account for 51.4% of the proposed 2027 national budget.

More funds for LGUs, BARMM

The proposed budget also provides P1.32 trillion for the NTA, which De Leon said would give local governments the resources to effectively deliver devolved services.

Another P58.53 billion is proposed for the Local Government Support Fund, including financial assistance to LGUs, the Growth Equity Fund and the Barangay Development Program.

For the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), the government is proposing P115.62 billion to help sustain peace, strengthen self-governance and support long-term development.

De Leon said the proposed budget prioritizes investments in infrastructure, education, health, food security and social protection.

House Speaker Faustino Dy III said lawmakers would closely examine the proposed budget before it is finalized as the General Appropriations Bill.

“Tatanungin natin ang mga ahensya hindi lamang kung magkano ang kanilang hinihingi, kundi kung paano ito gagamitin at kung anong konkretong bunga ang maibibigay nito sa sambayanan.”

(We will ask agencies not only how much they are requesting, but how it will be used and what concrete results it will deliver to the people.)

He also vowed to keep the budget process open and transparent.

“Hindi sapat na sabihin kung magkano ang ginagastos. Dapat maipakita kung ano ang nagagawa ng bawat piso.”

(It is not enough to say how much is being spent. We must show what every peso accomplishes.) —VAL, GMA News