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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Panalo ang kabataan': Aquino hails signing of 2026 national budget

'Panalo ang kabataan': Aquino hails signing of 2026 national budget

Published Jan 5, 2026 05:02 pm
Senator Bam Aquino (Facebook)
Senator Bam Aquino (Facebook)
Senator Paolo "Bam" Aquino said on Monday, Jan. 5, that the signing of the 2026 national budget into law ensures that vital education programs, such as the construction of classrooms and the implementation of the school-based feeding program, will be adequately funded and properly implemented.
“Panalo ang kabataang Pilipino ngayong naaprubahan na ang 2026 national budget. Sa pamamagitan nito, mapopondohan na at maipatutupad nang tama ang mga mahahalagang programang makatutulong upang mapalakas at mapabuti ang sektor ng edukasyon (The Filipino youth have won with the approval of the 2026 national budget. Through this, key programs that will help strengthen and improve the education sector can now be properly funded and implemented),” Aquino, who chairs of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said.
“May pondo na para sa pagpapatayo ng mga silid-aralan, dagdag na budget para sa school-based feeding program at libreng kolehiyo, at iba pang mahahalagang suporta para sa mga mag-aaral upang matiyak na mas maayos silang makakapag-aral (There is now funding for the construction of classrooms, an increased budget for the school-based feeding program and free college education, as well as other essential support for students to ensure they can study under better conditions),” he added.
The P1.34-trillion education budget – the largest in the country’s history – allocates P68 billion for the construction of new classrooms and P25.6 billion for the expansion of the School-Based Feeding Program.
The budget also earmarks P67 billion for the implementation of Republic Act No. 10931, or the Free College Law, which Aquino authored.
In addition, it adopts Aquino’s proposal for the allocation of P500 million under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the Higher Education Development Program, specifically allotted for financial support for Related Learning Experience (RLE) requirements of students in allied health sciences programs.
Students set to benefit from this funding include those in allied health sciences programs, such as Nursing, Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Radiologic Technology, Midwifery, Nutrition and Dietetics, Speech-Language Pathology, Human Biology/Pre-Med Allied Programs, Dentistry, Biochemistry, and Psychology.
In his speech, President Marcos said the education budget also supports the creation of teaching and non-teaching plantilla positions in public schools and promotion or reclassification of teachers to ensure quality learning.
However, Aquino reiterated his call for vigilance to ensure that the budget is implemented with full transparency so that every peso reaches its intended programs and benefits the students.
“Sama-sama nating bantayan ang paggamit ng pondong ito, hanggang sa kahuli-hulihang sentimo, upang masigurong mapupunta ito sa edukasyon at hindi sa korapsyon (Let us collectively monitor the use of these funds, down to the very last centavo, to ensure that they go to education and not to corruption),” he stressed.

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