Economic council approves education, water, social protection programs

The Philippine Economy and Development (ED) Council, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on Tuesday approved major initiatives to improve basic education, expand clean water access and strengthen social protection for non-regular government workers.

The council approved the Program for Learning Upgrading and School Development (PLUS-D) of the Department of Education (DepEd), with a total cost of P38.27 billion.

Proposed for official development assistance (ODA) loan financing from the World Bank, PLUS-D aims to enhance learning outcomes and strengthen education management and delivery systems nationwide from 2026 to 2032. The program will focus on improving literacy and numeracy for Kindergarten to Grade 6 students, and boosting reading and math proficiency for those in Grades seven to 10.

“This project underscores the government’s commitment to human capital development—ensuring that education reforms reach every Filipino learner, especially those in disadvantaged areas,” said Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who is the council’s vice chairperson.

The council also approved the Accelerating Water Supply and Sanitation for the Poor and Lagging Areas (AWSPSA) project, costing P14.98 billion, also proposed for World Bank ODA loan financing. AWSPSA aims to improve access to safe water supply and sanitation services in underserved communities, specifically in the Loboc Cluster (Bohol), Siargao Island (Surigao del Norte), and Jolo (Sulu).

“Reliable access to clean water is essential to a community’s well-being and development,” Balisacan said.

To enhance social protection for government workers, the council endorsed a proposed executive order (EO) to facilitate the voluntary deduction and remittance of Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth and Pag-IBIG Fund contributions for contract of service (COS) and job order (JO) personnel in national government agencies, government-owned and -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges.

The ED Council also approved the revised scope and implementation arrangements of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project – Stage II to ensure delivery of irrigation water.

It adopted the Tariff and Related Matters Committee (TRMC) recommendation to maintain the current Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rate on rice imports at 15 percent until Dec. 31, 2025. Starting January 1, 2026, a more gradual and flexible tariff adjustment will be adopted, with adjustments by 5 percentage points per 5 percent change in international prices, subject to a minimum rate of 15 percent and a maximum rate of 35 percent.

Balisacan said the recent presidential decision to extend the rice import ban until the end of December renders the rice tariffs redundant for now.

It approved the amended Guidelines for the Formulation, Prioritization and Monitoring of the Government’s Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs).

“These decisions collectively reinforce our efforts to sustain inclusive growth through sound policies and well-targeted investments that improve service delivery and promote economic resilience,” Balisacan said.