Education Still Underfunded in 2026 Budget, Advocates Warn
MANILA — Education still underfunded in 2026 budget remains a pressing concern, education advocates emphasized this weekend. They urged lawmakers to prioritize national budget investments on learners and human capital development.
Community members and education groups alike stressed the importance of transparency, supporting the call for opening budget deliberations to the public. This move, they said, would strengthen accountability and ensure that public funds genuinely benefit the people.
Budget Allocation Falls Short of Global Standards
Officials reported that the 2026 budget proposal allots P1.178 trillion for education, which amounts to only 3.8 percent of the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP). This figure lags behind the 4 to 6 percent allocation recommended by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
According to sources close to policy discussions, this persistent underfunding highlights the country’s failure to meet international benchmarks for education spending. Over the past decade, education expenditure has averaged just 3.2 percent of GDP, as revealed by the Second Congressional Commission on Education’s Year Two report.
Constitutional Mandate vs. Actual Funding
Local leaders noted that despite the 1987 Constitution mandating the government to give education the “highest priority,” appropriations laws often assign it a lower rank. This disconnect between legal obligation and budget practice continues to hamper efforts to improve educational outcomes nationwide.
“We must allocate our resources where it matters most, because every peso wasted denies our people access to vital programs—such as education, nutrition, and healthcare—that they rightfully deserve,” said a representative of an education advocacy group.
Concerns Over Budget Efficiency
Community members expressed alarm over inefficiencies and budget insertions that erode education funding. They warned that these issues undermine progress and threaten the quality of learning opportunities for Filipino students.
Last year, the administration insisted that the 2025 budget increased education funding by including allocations for military and police schools. However, several education organizations criticized this approach, questioning whether such inclusions truly reflect support for the broader education sector.
Urgency to Act Now
Advocates urged immediate action, emphasizing the risks of continued delays. “Every year, we delay meeting the standard, we risk losing a generation,” they cautioned.
With budget deliberations ongoing in both houses of Congress, stakeholders called for a renewed commitment to invest adequately in education to secure the nation’s future.
For more news and updates on education funding, visit Filipinokami.com.
