The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said it will work closely with Congress to ensure provision of sufficient funds for the nation’s education sector from the reallocated infrastructure budget.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said on Monday her office is pushing for the swift approval of increased allocations for education, particularly for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).
Pangandaman stressed that education is a leading priority of the Marcos administration within the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
“A few days ago, the president mentioned the reallocation of DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) funds for priority programs—and the education sector is among the destinations of that money. We stand with this realignment, and we will make sure it is implemented properly so that our students, teachers, and SUCs receive the support they deserve,” she said.
She added, “Education has always been our number one priority under the NEP.”
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered a portion of the P255.5 billion set aside for the flood control budget to be diverted to agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
UNESCO threshold
The realignment comes as the proposed 2026 budget for basic and higher education has reached P1.224 trillion, equivalent to 4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
Pangandaman said this marks the first time the country has met UNESCO’s recommended threshold for education spending.
Of that amount, P134.99 billion is earmarked for SUCs.
In compliance with the order from Malacañang, Pangandaman called on Congress to act with urgency in approving higher appropriations for SUCs.
“It is our hope that Congress will heed this call and put more resources where they matter most—in preparing our youth for the future,” she said.
Pangandaman stressed that without timely legislative support, universities and colleges may struggle to cope with a projected increase in enrollment.
“With enrollment in State universities and colleges projected to rise in 2026, the DBM will be ready to support whatever funding requirements our SUCs need to brace for this challenge,” she said, adding that, “Investing in education is an investment in the nation’s future. Providing sufficient resources for SUCs will not only address immediate enrollment pressures but will also strengthen the country’s long-term human capital development.”
Funding gap concerns
Pangandaman also addressed alarm raised by critics and lawmakers over a potential funding gap, emphasizing the DBM’s openness to adjustments on the SUC budget.
Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, in particular, warned that the DBM’s current allocation might fall short by P3.29 billion if funding failed to match the projections.
Aquino noted that SUC enrollment, currently at 1.97 million students, could rise by 300,000 in 2026, bringing the total to 2.27 million.
In response, Pangandaman said the DBM is prepared to work closely with legislative counterparts “to calibrate funding levels that reflect realistic enrollment projections.”
“We must ensure alignment between projections per SUC and the corresponding Free Higher Education funding—so that no institution is left behind or underfunded,” she said.
Impact of reallocation
At the same time, Pangandaman addressed concerns over the impact on the necessary projects by the cut in the DPWH’s flood control budget, saying the reduction “would not significantly affect the country’s infrastructure overall spending.”
“What’s important is that we still get to implement key projects like school buildings, hospitals and infrastructure that support our agriculture sector,” she said.
The DPWH had already pared down its proposed 2026 budget to P625.78 billion from P881 billion by removing duplicate or completed projects. Pangandaman assured stakeholders that legitimate obligations under existing contracts will continue.
The budget secretary affirmed that her office will remain vigilant in monitoring the implementation of reallocated funds.
“Transparency and accountability will be central to ensuring that redirected budget lines, indeed, reach their intended recipients in education and other priority sectors,” she added.
