Advocacy group Stratbase Institute calls on the Senate to prioritize digital infrastructure in the 2026 national budget by ramping up support for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) connectivity and technology programs, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
Following the House of Representatives’ approval of the P6.79-trillion national budget for 2026, Stratbase president Victor Andres Manhit, urged the senators to redirect a portion of unprogrammed appropriations to expand the Last Mile Schools Program, which provides internet access, digital devices, and solar-powered electrification to underserved public schools.
“Now that the House has passed the budget, it’s the Senate’s turn to make a strategic intervention,” Manhit said. “We urge our senators to ramp up funding for digital infrastructure in public schools, especially those farthest from the capital.”
The Last Mile Schools Program maintains a flat allocation of P3 billion in both the 2025 General Appropriations Act and the 2026 National Expenditure Program. A significant portion of this budget supports solar panel installations, which are essential in powering ICT equipment in off-grid areas. However, the proposed 2026 budget does not include explicit line items for key programs like the computerization or connectivity enhancement, despite the growing urgency for digital learning infrastructure.
“Reliable broadband internet and access to AI-powered learning platforms are no longer luxuries—they are essential infrastructure,” Manhit emphasized. “They ensure learning continuity during typhoons and floods, and equip both teachers and students with tools to thrive in a digitally driven, AI-powered economy.”
Manhit warned that without immediate investments, the country risks widening educational inequality and falling further behind in global readiness rankings. The Global Education Futures Readiness Index (GEFRI) recently ranked the Philippines fifth lowest in Southeast Asia, scoring only 56.32 out of 100, citing persistent gaps in infrastructure, innovation, and access.
“Unprogrammed appropriations must not become a backdoor for pet projects,” Manhit said. “Let’s instead use them for a transformative investment that ensures every school is equipped with broadband, digital devices, and online learning content that teachers can use to reverse our education crisis.”
Manhit also proposed reforming procurement practices to prioritize solution-based purchasing over the lowest-bidder model when acquiring digital technologies.
“The latest innovations in education technology are often not the cheapest,” he explained. “If we want durable, scalable systems that can truly transform learning, we must invest in best-value solutions—just like the private sector does.”
He added that procurement should emphasize long-term performance and adaptability, ensuring that schools receive technology solutions that remain effective as educational demands evolve.
The 2026 NEP includes a significant boost to the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP), with an allocation of P16.449 billion, up from P2.4 billion in 2025. This budget expansion will fund the procurement of over 48,000 laptops for teachers and extend internet access to more than 3,200 public schools. It also supports the DigiEd28 initiative, which integrates data systems across DepEd offices to improve decision-making and education quality.
“This is about future-proofing Philippine education,” Manhit said. “The Senate now has the opportunity to do something right with this budget—let’s make sure our learners are ready for the digital future,” he added.
