The Department of Education (DepEd) is seeking P928.5 billion for its 2026 budget—a near-trillion-peso proposal that would fund new classrooms, additional teachers, and nationwide learning recovery initiatives.

If approved, the budget would mark one of the largest single-year allocations in Philippine education history, reflecting the government’s urgent response to chronic shortages and post-pandemic learning gaps.

On Wednesday, September 3, DepEd asked Congress to approve its proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026—an 18.7 percent increase from this year’s General Appropriations Act—to fund major reforms in basic education.

In a budget hearing, DepEd officials said the increase—equivalent to P146.3 billion—is necessary to expand classroom construction, hire more teachers and non-teaching staff, strengthen feeding programs, and fully implement learning recovery initiatives.

According to DepEd’s presentation during the hearing, P41.7 billion will be allocated for building and repairing schools, with more than P19 billion dedicated to new classroom construction.

Over P9 billion will also fund disaster-resilient school infrastructure to ensure safety in hazard-prone areas. In the past 18 months, DepEd noted that it has built 6,237 classrooms, repaired over 10,800, and restored 67 Gabaldon heritage schools.

However, the department admitted the classroom shortage remains a national concern, citing the need for 105,000 new classrooms to keep up with rising enrollment.

DepEd’s biggest investment in the 2026 proposal is in teachers and personnel, with over P48 billion allocated for new hires, training, and teaching resources.

The plan includes:

- 33,000 new teacher positions

- 11,000 Administrative Officer II positions (one per school)

- 10,000 school counselors

- 5,000 additional non-teaching staff

DepEd said it also intends to distribute nearly 243,000 laptops to teachers, allocate P11 billion for textbooks, and continue salary and allowance adjustments—including the P10,000 annual teaching supplies allowance.

DepEd is allocating P121 billion in direct support for schools and learners, including P61 billion for school operating budgets, P11.8 billion for the School-Based Feeding Program, and P40 billion for voucher programs to support private school enrollees.

Expanded funding for the Alternative Learning System and Special Needs Education

Officials also announced the nationwide rollout of a Universal Feeding Program for the youngest learners, in response to concerns over child malnutrition.

A key part of DepEd’s “wish list” is funding for the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Law, with P4.87 billion proposed to scale tutoring and targeted interventions for struggling learners.

DepEd noted that the revised K–10 curriculum has been implemented, while the Senior High School program is being strengthened with tech-voc qualifications in partnership with TESDA. Since 2022, DepEd said it has procured 46 of 61 targeted textbook titles, while international assessments continue to guide literacy-focused reforms.

DepEd highlighted Project BUKAS, which makes 22 key datasets publicly available, as part of its transparency and governance reforms. The department also reported securing P1.32 billion in private sector investments for teacher training, P216 million for ICT modernization, and P427 million for school infrastructure support.

While most attached agencies face smaller budgets due to one-time 2025 outlays, DepEd is proposing P207 million for the Teacher Education Council to strengthen teacher quality. The National Book Development Board (P156.6 million), National Council for Children’s Television (P72.6 million), Philippine High School for the Arts (P57 million), National Academy of Sports (P251.1 million), and National Museum of the Philippines (P840.9 million) also presented their respective allocations.

DepEd concluded its presentation by appealing for lawmakers’ full support in passing the proposed 2026 budget.

“Those who have less in life should have more in education,” DepEd said. “This budget is the fuel required to deliver on the promise of a quality education for every Filipino child," it added.