Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV on Tuesday, January 13, urged the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to ensure the full and proper use of the P1.34-trillion education fund under the 2026 national budget.

Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, noted that this year’s education budget reached record-high compared to other departments.

Thus, he said the government should not let down Filipino students who are counting on its promises. 

“We are happy that nothing was cut from the education budget. This is the highest education budget in our history. Nothing was cut from it, we fought for it and now the budget is finished,” said Aquino.

“Now, the ball is in the hands of the education agencies. They need to do the right thing, set the right price, make sure that there is no corruption in the huge amount of money we have given to education,” he said.

He said education agencies are “responsible to the Filipino people and to the Filipino students.”

Aquino assured that the basic education panel will closely and continuously monitor the implementation of the education budget to ensure that commitments are fulfilled amid statements about challenges in implementation.

“The Committee on Basic Education will monitor the proper use of money. There will be no ghost projects, no ghost students. We will ensure that money is used for the education of the people at the right price, in the right way,” he said.

Earlier, the senator underscored the need for a swift and transparent implementation of key education programs under the 2026 budget, particularly the construction of new classrooms and the expansion of the Free College Law, as well as the increase in student allowances under the program.

The P1.34-trillion education budget allots P67-billion for the Free College Law (RA 10931), including added funding for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) or allowances for underprivileged students.

The budget also includes P68-billion for classroom construction and P25.6 billion for the School-Based Feeding Program.

Also included in the 2026 national budget is Aquino’s proposal for the allocation of P500—million under the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) of the Higher Education Development Program, specifically earmarked for Financial Support for RLE Requirements in Allied Health Sciences Programs.

The lawmaker called on the public to remain vigilant and actively engaged to ensure that the education budget goes to its intended programs and beneficiaries, down to the last centavo.

“Let us all be vigilant in ensuring that this fund goes directly to education, and not to corruption,” Aquino appealed.