The Philippines’ planned 2026 education spending, set to hit a record P1.28 trillion, has prompted an industry-led group to call for full transparency and a detailed breakdown of allocations to ensure the increased funding translates into real improvements in education outcomes.
Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) executive director Bal Camua welcomed the growing investment, which House Committee on Appropriations chair Mikaela Suansing said would finally breach the global benchmark of allocating 4 to 6 percent of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to education, a standard the Philippines has consistently fallen short of in previous years.
“The growing investment in the education sector is a welcome development but without clear data on how funds will be distributed and used, it remains difficult to assess whether the budget will lead to meaningful improvements in learning outcomes,” Camua said.
The budget is included in House Bill No. 4058, or the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, recently approved by the House of Representatives.
Camua said that given most Filipino learners depend on the public education system, “decades of underinvestment in education has significantly hindered national development and economic competitiveness.”
PBEd has recommended that Congress and key government agencies, including the Department of Budget and Management, provide clear, detailed and accessible information on how education funds will be allocated, what outcomes are expected and the methodology used to determine that the allocation meets the four percent of GDP benchmark.
The advocacy group said spending should be guided by strategy and evidence, addressing urgent gaps such as building more classrooms, expanding feeding programs, improving access to learning materials and digital tools, hiring and supporting teachers and school heads and sustaining programs like free higher education.
“A whole-of-society approach—rooted in transparency, systematic planning, and shared accountability—is crucial to transforming budget allocations into real improvements that empower every Filipino learner to succeed and contribute to national development,” Camua said.
