In a strong show of unity and commitment to educational reform, the House of Representatives (HRep) has thrown its full support behind President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara’s call for a significantly increased education budget for Fiscal Year 2026.

During the Department of Education’s (DepEd) budget defense before the Committee on Appropriations, lawmakers praised the agency’s proposed ₱928.52 billion allocation under the National Expenditures Program—an 18.9% increase from the previous year’s budget. Secretary Angara hailed the proposal as “the most significant increase in recent years,” aligning with the President’s vision to make education a top national priority.

 “We hold on to a simple truth—that those who have less in life should have more in education,” Angara said, expressing gratitude to the committee for its support.

Committee Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing echoed the President’s directive, stating, “We want this budget to be an education budget.” She emphasized the House’s commitment to finding fiscal space to prioritize education funding.

Rep. Bella Vanessa Suansing of Sultan Kudarat’s 2nd District lauded Angara’s proactive leadership, especially in leveraging technology to close learning gaps. “It’s really hard to find people in government who go beyond their mandate—and we have that in DepEd,” she said.

Zamboanga del Norte 2nd District Rep. Irene Labadlabad urged fellow lawmakers to champion a higher allocation for DepEd, despite fiscal constraints. “We can do our best to urge this body to increase the budget,” she affirmed.

Committee Vice Chair and DepEd Budget Sponsor Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora outlined the expanded budget’s strategic goals: strengthening the teaching workforce, improving learning integration, addressing child stunting through nutrition programs, and closing infrastructure gaps in schools.

Angara responded with heartfelt thanks to Congress, particularly Rep. Zamora and Chairperson Suansing, for their unwavering support. “Seven years—wow. I don’t know how you did it,” he said, acknowledging Zamora’s long-standing commitment.

Angara also reported improved budget utilization, noting that 43.2% of previously unused funds from FY 2024 have already been appropriated in 2025. He detailed key initiatives, including:

– Hiring of additional teachers and administrative staff 

– Enhanced teacher benefits 

– Expansion of the School-Based Feeding Program 

– Procurement of textbooks and learning materials 

Despite persistent challenges such as classroom shortages and the digital divide, Angara reaffirmed DepEd’s resolve to innovate and deliver quality education.

“With Congress’ support, we can accelerate and improve the delivery of services to our schools,” he said.