The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday, September 25, welcomed the P22.5-billion boost to its 2026 budget for classrooms and key programs, thanking Congress for supporting President Marcos’ education agenda.

In a statement, DepEd expressed gratitude to the House of Representatives for approving the additional funding under the 2026 national budget to build more classrooms and improve facilities.

During plenary deliberations, the House—led by Speaker Bojie Dy III and the Committee on Appropriations’ Budget Amendments Review Sub-Committee chaired by Rep. Mikaela Suansing—approved amendments that expand DepEd’s capacity to deliver safe, quality, and inclusive education across the country, the agency said.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara welcomed the move, highlighting the urgency of addressing school congestion.

“Pasalamat tayo sa Kongreso na dinagdagan nila ang budget para sa edukasyon (Let us thank Congress for increasing the budget for education),” Angara said, noting that the additional classrooms, chairs, and feeding programs are a big help in easing the situation in public schools.

“Pero ang pinakamahalaga, maipatupad ito agad at nang maayos para makahabol tayo sa mga naantalang proyekto at maramdaman agad ang resulta ng mga mag-aaral at guro (But most importantly, these must be implemented properly and promptly so we can catch up on delayed projects and students and teachers can immediately feel the impact),” he added.

DepEd said the largest budget boost will fund the Basic Education Facilities (BEF) program, which includes the construction, rehabilitation, and completion of classrooms nationwide. The allocation also covers desks, chairs, and other essential furniture.

To fast-track delivery, lawmakers backed DepEd’s plan to strengthen partnerships with local government units (LGUs) and explore public-private partnerships (PPPs) for school construction.

The funding increase comes as experts warn of a looming classroom shortage of millions by 2040 if infrastructure gaps remain unaddressed.

Angara assured lawmakers that DepEd will work with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), LGUs, and partners to ensure efficient and transparent implementation.

Aside from giving classroom construction a major funding boost, DepEd said Congress also approved targeted allocations to ensure that education reaches marginalized learners, which include:

- P306 million – Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Flexible Learning Program

- P193 million – Special Needs Education Program

- P79.6 million – Indigenous Peoples Education (IPED) Program

- P26.25 million – Madrasah Education Program

“These allocations reflect the government’s commitment to inclusivity and to reaching learners in diverse contexts,” DepEd said.

DepEd said teachers and tutors also benefited from the amendments, with significant support directed to the National Learning Recovery Program (ARAL).

Additional funding has been secured to strengthen the ARAL Program, DepEd’s flagship recovery initiative. This includes P579.5 million allocated for overload pay to public school teachers and P984 million earmarked for compensating non-DepEd tutors.

“These amounts provide substantial support to extend tutoring services for struggling learners,” DepEd said.

DepEd said the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) also received an additional P1.88 billion, augmenting the P11.8 billion already allocated in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

“This ensures that millions of learners will continue receiving nutritious meals in schools—a critical factor in improving learning outcomes and learner well-being,” DepEd said.