Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara said the department’s record-high budget allocation will allow the historic hiring of 65,100 teaching and non-teaching plantilla personnel, as well as the long-awaited promotion of approximately 100,000 public school teachers.

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Angara thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as well as Congress for the PhP1.015 trillion Deped budget under the PhP6.793 trillion national budget for 2026.

Angara said the lack of career advancement has been a major reason why many public school teachers leave.

“Pero dito sa binigay na budget—kaya nga unprecedented din po in terms of promotions—kasi makakapag-promote tayo ng over 100,000 (public school teachers) with the budget given by Congress this year,” Angara said.

Under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) implemented under Angara’s leadership, DepEd has promoted 16,025 teachers, with 41,183 more teachers processed for the next batch of promotion.

“Ito iyong rason kung bakit umaalis ang ating mga teachers, dahil sa pakiramdam po nila hindi sila na-appreciate ng pamahalaan, hindi sila napo-promote nang husto – halos isang dekada hindi na-promote, hindi tumataas ang suweldo,” Angara explained.

The 30 percent increase in the DepEd’s budget was the biggest increase he has seen in his political career, Angara said.

For the first time, the country met the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) global benchmark for education spending that recommends that countries allocate at least 4 to 6 percent of the Gross Domestic Product or GDP to education.

With its historic budget, Angara said DepEd will boost spending on very important programs, such as the School-based Feeding Program whose budget increased from PhP3 billion last year to over PhP25 billion this year.

The DepEd will also fully fund the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program that provides free tutorials and learning interventions to help struggling students catch up to grade-level standards, especially in Math, Science, and Reading.

“For the first time, binigyan po tayo ng PhP9 billion so lahat po ng eskuwelahan mayroon na tayong tutor under the ARAL Program,” Angara said.

The 2026 DepEd budget also allocated funds for the construction of 24,000 classrooms, far exceeding the original allocation of 5,000 to 6,000 new classrooms.

Angara said for the first time, classroom construction will no longer be undertaken solely by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“So ngayon, mayroon tayong flexibility provision na aside from DPWH, even DepEd, even local government units… And the majority of the projected 20,000 plus classrooms will be built by our local government units or bidded out by our local government units,” said Angara. | PND

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco Benitez on Tuesday expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. after TESDA received the highest budget allocation in its history following the approval of the 2026 national budget.

“Magpapasalamat na rin ako dahil ang budget po ng TESDA para sa 2026 ay ang pinakamalaking budget po ng TESDA sa amin din pong kasaysayan,” Benitez said in a Palace press briefing.

“We have PhP19 billion in terms of scholarship funds for the first time, kasali na diyan ang aming ongoing efforts on training child development workers nationwide,” the TESDA chief added.

Benitez said training for 9,000 child development workers is already underway, with funding for an additional 9,000 such workers included in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), as promised by the Office of the President, as part of efforts to help address stunting in the country.

He added that the TESDA budget also covers the rollout of the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) program signed by the President and launched last year.

According to Benitez, over 400 EBET programs were registered in the second half of 2025, and the agency aims to reach nearly 100,000 EBET learners in 2026.

“Nagdagdag din po ng pondo ang ating mahal na Pangulo sa EBET program sa pamamagitan po ng ating Tulong Trabaho sa scholarship program for those particularly not in education, employment, or training, as well as upskilling for those already employed as part of EBET,” he noted.

Benitez said PhP500 million was also included in the GAA for micro-credentials designed for workers to earn modular certifications for specific skills, as well as for programs aimed at mitigating artificial intelligence (AI) disruption in the labor workforce.

The funding also comes from the Office of the President, he added. | PND

Malacañang on Tuesday expressed confidence that the 2026 national budget is legally sound and fully intended to benefit the Filipino people.

“Confident sila na ang ginawa ngayon na budget ang pinaka-malinis, pinaka-maayos at ito ay para sa taumbayan. So, confident po ang Pangulo,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a Palace press briefing.

Castro made the comment in response to reports that some individuals plan to raise questions before the Supreme Court regarding the remaining unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed on Monday.

Castro said that while anyone has the right to file a case before the Supreme Court, the administration is prepared to respond to any petition challenging the constitutionality of this part of the 2026 national budget.

“Of course, kapag sila ay nag-file ng petition sasagot naman po ang administrasyon at tingnan na lamang natin kung ano ang magiging resulta at magiging desisyon ng Korte Suprema,” said Castro. | PND

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the 40.11 percent increase in its budget, now totaling PhP47 billion, which will expand government support for free tuition and financial assistance for college students.

In a Palace briefing on Tuesday, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the budget increase is an indication of President Marcos’ commitment towards fully implementing the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Law and improving Filipinos’ access to higher education.

“We are really very grateful kasi lahat po ng pangako ng ating Pangulo sa SONA 2025 ay na-realize na at marami talagang pasalamat kami sa kaniya kasi ngayon lang po namin nakita. Ako po ay nandoon sa Higher Education for the last 20 years pero ngayon ko lang nakita kung gaano kapursigido ang ating Pangulo sa pagpapatupad ng mga nakalaan sa ating UniFAST Law,” Agrupis said.

Of the PhP47 billion budget, Agrupis said that PhP40 billion is allocated for the implementation of the UniFAST Law, which includes the free higher education or free tuition fee for all students enrolling in state-funded universities, local universities, and colleges, and assistance to students who are going to enroll in private universities in areas without public higher education institutions.

Agrupis added that the budget hike will also help in providing tertiary education subsidies to students in need.

“On top of that, may mga tertiary education subsidy. Nagagalak po ako na lahat po ng ongoing na enrolled ng state-funded university at mga tertiary education na subsidy na kulang noong NEP ay nabigyan na po,” she reported.

The CHED official also said that funding for the Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program (MSRS) increased, which will help support the administration’s goal of establishing at least one medical school in every region to improve nationwide healthcare access.

“Iyong mga medical students natin kasi sa ngayon, we have 26 college of medicine and our target—ang target ng Pangulo ay lahat ng region ay may college of medicine para atendahan ang kalusugan ng ating kapwa Pilipino. Tumaas po siya so both institutional and expansion of scholarship,” Agrupis said.

Agrupis also mentioned the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program for Senior High School (SHS) who graduated with High to Highest Honors or those with a general weighted average of at least 95% and come from low- to middle-income households.

“We have 20,000 slots of this…Students who are encouraged to enroll in the priority program kahit private or state-funded, mayroon na po silang pag-asang matupad ang kanilang mga ambisyon at makatulong sa pagbuo ng Bagong Pilipinas,” Agrupis said.

“So, ito po lahat ay katuparan sa mga pangako ng ating Pangulo, sa kaniyang binitiwang promise during the SONA,” she added.

Agrupis said their agency, along with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), will work hard to functionalize the trifocal education system in the country.

“We will be providing a seamless pathway sa lahat at any point in their educational journey, wala pong maiiwan,” she said. | PND

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has assured the public that salary increases, pensions, and retirement benefits of government workers will not be delayed nor reduced under the 2026 national budget, Malacañang said on Tuesday, dismissing circulating claims of funding cuts as false and misleading.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the DBM emphasized that salaries, approved increases, and benefits of government employees remain intact, with funds fully allocated in the respective budgets of their agencies.

“Mayroon pong gustong linawin ang DBM. May kumakalat na balita na maaantala o maapektuhan daw ang salary increases at retirement benefits ng mga guro, kawani ng gobyerno at uniformed personnel sa 2026 national budget. Hindi po ito totoo. Walang tinanggal na pondo,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

Castro clarified that the funds were realigned to the appropriate agencies to ensure a more direct, faster, and more transparent release of benefits, particularly for uniformed personnel.

“Ang sinasabing PhP24 billion ay hindi binawas o kinansela, inilipat lang ito sa tamang ahensya para sa mas diretso, mas mabilis at mas malinaw na paglabas ng benepisyo lalo na para sa subsistence allowance ng uniformed personnel,” she said.

“Buong-buo ang sahod at salary increases. Ang salary increases ng kasalukuyang civilian employees at uniformed personnel ay nasa budget ng mga kani-kaniyang ahensya. Walang delay, walang bawas, walang mawawala,” the Palace Press Officer stressed.

“Hindi apektado ang pensyon ng uniformed personnel. Mananatiling buo ang pensyon, ang mga bagong magri-retire sa optional retirement ay dadaan pa rin sa umiiral na proseso,” Castro noted.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday signed the PhP6.793 trillion national budget for Fiscal Year 2026, sustaining the momentum in education reform, health protection, food security, social security, and job creation while strengthening safeguards against corruption.

Castro also assured the public that safeguards are in place to cover any additional requirements for personnel, citing dedicated allocations within the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for Miscellaneous and Personnel Benefits Fund.

“Kung kailangan naman ng karagdagang pondo para sa mga uniformed personnel na sumasailalim sa optional retirement, meron po tayong nakaantabay na pension and gratuity fund sa GAA,” she added.

“Kung ang mga ito po ay magkulang, mayroon pa rin tayong contingent fund na maaaring matakbuhan. Huwag po tayo magpaninlang, ikalat natin ang katotohanan,” Castro said. | PND

“Hindi tayo papayag na mapunta sa kurakot ang salaping pinaghirapan ng bawat Pilipino.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to ensure that every peso of the PhP6.793-trillion 2026 national budget will be spent in ways that directly benefit the Filipino people.

In his speech during the signing of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the Fiscal Year 2026, President Marcos said that every program or project will undergo rigorous scrutiny to guarantee tangible results for Filipinos, particularly the most vulnerable sectors.

“Sa National Budget ng 2026, malinaw ang direksyon ng inyong pamahalaan: magiging mas masinop, mas maingat, at mas responsable kami sa paggastos ng pondo ng bayan,” the President said.

“Ang bawat programa at proyekto ay dadaan sa masusing pagsusuri upang masiguro na ito ay may malinaw na benepisyo sa mamamayan—lalo na sa sektor na higit na nangangailangan,” the President added.

The President has signed the PhP6.793 trillion 2026 national budget, which aims to sustain the country’s progress in education reform, health protection, food security, social security, and job creation.

President Marcos also assured that his administration will intensify efforts to improve government systems, strengthen accountability, and combat corruption.

The President likewise urged the public to actively participate in the said goals.

“Ang pagbabantay, ang pagtatanong, ang pag-uulat, at ang pakikilahok ay mahalagang bahagi ng isang gumaganang demokrasya. Kasama ninyo kami sa layuning tiyakin na ang budget ng bayan ay para sa bayan,” said President Marcos. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday announced his decision to veto several items under Unprogrammed Appropriations (UAs) totaling nearly PhP92.5 billion in the 2026 national budget approved by Congress.

Speaking at the signing of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) amounting to PhP6.793 trillion, President Marcos emphasized the UAs must be used only under clearly defined conditions, with safeguards in place to prevent misuse.

“To ensure that public funds are expended in clear service of national interests, I vetoed several items of appropriations with their purposes and corresponding Special Provisions under the UA, totaling almost PhP92.5 billion,” the President said.

Acknowledging Congress’s support in limiting the UA to essential needs, President Marcos said he further reduced this to the bare minimum which shall be at a level that is the lowest since 2019.

“Let me be clear: the Unprogrammed Appropriations are not blank checks. We will not allow the Unprogrammed Appropriations to be misused or treated as a backdoor for discretionary spending,” the President said.

The Chief Executive said the UA “utilization is provided with safeguards and is only available when clearly defined triggers and tests are met and will be released only after careful validation.”

According to the President, the safeguards will be enforced “without exception” to serve the public interest and advance the country’s national development goals.

“We will make releases charged from the UA transparent, providing the necessary details on the funding source and the corresponding purpose,” the President added.

President Marcos directed all concerned agencies and departments of the national government to exercise “prudent fiscal management to ensure uninterrupted quality public service.”

“Sa aking mga kababayan, dama po namin ang inyong agam-agam at pangamba sa nakaraang budget. Kaisa ninyo ako sa pagnanais na masigurong ang bawat pisong buwis ay napupunta sa tamang proyekto at sa tunay na pangangailangan ng ating taumbayan,” the President emphasized.

“Naririnig namin po kayo,” the President added. | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday ordered a strict implementation of the provision in the 2026 General Appropriations Act barring politicians’ involvement in the distribution of cash and other forms of financial assistance to ensure every peso will reach the intended beneficiaries without patronage.

During the signing ceremony at Malacañan Palace, President Marcos emphasized that the PhP6.793 trillion national budget for 2026 must be used solely to serve the Filipino people and never be used for partisan or political influence.

“We will strictly implement the provision on the ‘Prohibition on Political Involvement in the Distribution of Cash and Other Forms of Financial Assistance,” said the Chief Executive.

“Politicians shall be barred from the distribution of any financial aid and we shall ensure that the support reaches the intended beneficiaries without patronage,” the President declared.

“Walang bawas, walang kulang,” President Marcos stressed, ensuring that assistance programs must be delivered through proper government channels and shielded from patronage politics.

The government provides cash aid and other forms of financial assistance, including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), as well as cash grants and pensions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

President Marcos also emphasized the increased allocations under the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), which he said will empower local government units to respond to development needs, support livelihoods, and build safe and resilient communities.

“I stand firm in my constitutional duty to ensure the faithful execution of laws. Therefore, I hereby condition the implementation of certain provisions in this Act to conform to existing laws, policies, rules, and regulations,” the President also said.

Among the budget items subject to conditional implementation are the Engineering and Administrative Overhead Expenses, Payment of Retirement Benefits and Pensions, Capacity Development Programs, and Foreign Service Posts.

The President also cited programs and projects that will be carried out within legal and regulatory frameworks, such as the School-Based Feeding Program, Medical Scholarship and Return Service Program, PAMANA Program, Residential Care Services to Vulnerable Groups by Accredited Social Welfare and Development Agencies, Implementation of Infrastructure Projects of GOCCs, and Programs and Projects Related to Senior Citizens and Persons with Disability.

“This shall ensure that these programs promote our long-term development goals,” said the President. | PND

“We are committing to implement a budget that serves the people.”

Thus President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday signed the PhP6.793 trillion national budget for Fiscal Year 2026, sustaining the momentum in education reform, health protection, food security, social security, and job creation.

During the signing ceremony at Malacañan Palace, President Marcos assured the public that the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) or Republic Act No. 12314 is appropriately aligned with the government’s medium- and long-term development plans and is focused on uplifting the lives of Filipinos.

“The 2026 National Budget shall sustain our momentum in education reform, in health protection, in food security, in social security, and in job creation,” the President added.

As mandated by the Constitution, education received the highest budgetary priority, with the largest allocation of more than PhP1.34 trillion, funding additional teaching and non-teaching plantilla positions in public schools, teacher promotions and reclassification, and classroom construction nationwide.

The health sector was given PhP448.125 billion to support the promotion of Universal Health Care (UHC), including the PhP1 billion budget for the Zero Balance Billing (ZBB) Program in local government hospitals, covering in-patient services in basic accommodation. The budget also provides funding for disease surveillance, rapid response mechanisms, and sustainable health financing.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the government’s social health insurance agency, received nearly PhP130 billion, including the PhP60 billion ordered restored in accordance with the Supreme Court’s decision.

“These funds shall support preventive healthcare and the improvement of PhilHealth benefit packages, lowering the out-of-pocket expenses of Filipino families,” the President said.

Meanwhile, the agricultural sector was allotted over PhP297 billion for the modernization of supply systems and support for farmers and fisherfolk, including the establishment of farm-to-market roads that will connect farming communities to economic hubs, lessen transportation costs, and minimize post-harvest losses.

The government will also transform the social protection system by providing it with a budget of more than PhP270 billion, which will be used to enhance the quality of life for Filipinos, safeguard the welfare of all sectors, and foster human capital development.

Through these responsive and rationalized flagship programs, the President said the budget aims to direct the country towards achieving a single-digit poverty rate by 2028.

To uphold the welfare of the country’s defenders and peacemakers, the GAA also supports the implementation of the updated base pay schedule and increased subsistence allowance for military and uniformed personnel.

President Marcos acknowledged that with the approval of the 2026 GAA, the 2025 GAA was deemed reenacted and remained in force and effect until January 4, 2026.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) shall consider the expenditures lawfully incurred under the reenacted budget in formulating its fund release guidelines for FY 2026, the President directed.

The Chief Executive also expressed gratitude to Congress for the “principled exercise of its power of the purse and for the meaningful reforms undertaken to widen participation to strengthen accountability throughout the budget authorization process.” | PND

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday called on Filipinos to welcome the New Year with discipline, confidence, and a shared commitment to national progress and Bagong Pilipinas, urging unity, compassion, and collective purpose as 2026 sets in.

“As we step into the unfolding days ahead, may we move forward with a clearer understanding of our role in each other’s lives and a renewed commitment to building a future shaped not by circumstance done, but by the strength of our will and the clarity of our collective purpose,” the President said in his message.

President Marcos invited Filipinos to pause and take stock of the past year’s experiences, stressing the value of learning from challenges while setting a hopeful direction for the future.

“The coming of another year is always a moment for reflection and renewal. It gives us the opportunity to look back on the year that has passed–its lessons, challenges, and achievements–and to look ahead with hope and purpose to the possibilities that await us,” the President noted.

Highlighting the need for a forward-looking mindset as the country enters a new chapter, President Marcos emphasized the role of personal discipline and collective effort in shaping the nation’s future.

“As we step into 2026, I therefore call on every Filipino to embrace the year with discipline, confidence, and a shared commitment to our nation’s progress. For beyond personal resolutions, the new year calls on us to examine how we live with one another, how we lift one another, and how our choices shape our nation,” the Chief Executive added.

The President reaffirmed the government’s resolve to advance its vision of a more unified and compassionate Bagong Pilipinas, while pointing out the importance of solidarity and moral choice in nation-building.

“A society thrives when its people choose empathy over indifference, service over self-Interest, and hope over despair,” President Marcos emphasized.

“It is thus our commitment in the government to be relentless in pursuing a Bagong Pilipinas that nurtures unity, fosters compassion, and showcases the greatness of our kababayans.” | PND