More than P6 billion cut from the proposed 2027 education budget is facing scrutiny in the Senate, with Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV vowing to push for its restoration as lawmakers review funding for classrooms, school feeding and teacher development.
Aquino, chair of Senate Finance Subcommittee B, raised concerns over the reductions made to the Department of Education (DepEd) budget in the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) passed by the House of Representatives.
The proposed education budget was reduced from P916 billion under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to P910 billion in the House-approved bill, a cut of P6.17 billion, according to Aquino’s office.
The reductions affected classroom construction, the DepEd Computerization Program, teacher development and the national school-based feeding program.
During the budget deliberations, Aquino called for education spending to reach 4% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), saying sustained funding was necessary to address persistent learning gaps.
“Let me say off the top of this hearing, Secretary Angara, that I’m hoping that we can get back to 4% of GDP for education as a whole… Short po tayo,” Aquino said.
He said he would seek support from Senate leaders to ensure the sector receives adequate funding, stressing that education should not be politicized.
“Ang edukasyon po ay hindi ho dapat napopolitika. Ang edukasyon ay para sa lahat ng Pilipino, para sa lahat ng batang Pilipino,” he said.
Aquino also questioned the reduction in funding for the School-Based Feeding Program, which he said was cut from P27 billion in 2026 to P11.4 billion in the proposed 2027 budget.
The reduction comes despite the passage of the Libreng Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, also known as the Expanded National Nutrition Program, which expanded feeding coverage to learners up to Grade 3.
“For 2026, nabigyan po ng napakalaki na P27 billion para sa feeding program. However, in the NEP and the GAB, this was cut down to P11 billion. Ang laki po ng binawas sa feeding program,” Aquino said.
He noted that the expanded law aims to provide meals beyond kindergarten and Grade 1, adding that the broader coverage would require sufficient funding.
Aquino cited DepEd data showing that more than one million learners were rescued from severe malnutrition with the full 2026 feeding allocation. He said the results underscored the importance of adequately funding nutrition initiatives to support student performance.
The senator also pressed DepEd and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to accelerate classroom construction under the P68-billion Classroom Acceleration Program funded in the 2026 budget.
With the country facing a backlog of more than 140,000 classrooms, Aquino called for catch-up plans to speed up construction through local government-led projects, DPWH-led implementation and public-private partnerships.
The proposed 2027 budget will undergo further deliberations as senators examine the reductions and determine whether funding adjustments are needed.
Comments