BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Senators on Monday night rallied behind the leadership of Education Secretary Sonny Angara in approving the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposed PhP1.044-trillion budget for 2026, the largest in the country’s history, describing it as a crucial step toward resolving long-standing issues in the basic education system.

During the plenary deliberations, budget sponsor and Senate Committee on Finance chair Win Gatchalian and several lawmakers pointed to what they described as a clearer and more focused reform direction under Education Secretary Sonny Angara — a key factor behind the increased allocation and the Senate’s unified support for the agency.

Sen. Bam Aquino, chair of the Committee on Basic Education, set the tone of support for the agency, telling DepEd officials: “To the DepEd family, we’re here to support. Ito pong budget na ito, ito po yung simula. Hopefully, it can be a fresh start for our education system. Basta pinagtutulungan po natin para sa ating kabataan, I’m sure maabot po natin ang ating pangarap natin para sa kabataan.”

Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri echoed the endorsement, saying Congress placed its trust in Angara’s leadership. “We trust that under the able leadership of our distinguished former colleague, Secretary Sonny Angara, this sizable budget will accelerate the construction of classrooms, improve the compensation for teachers and tutors, and ensure that every learner has access to textbooks and other school materials that they need. I wish to congratulate Secretary Sonny and the entire DepEd family on the performance over the past year which has been foundational to securing this historic budget.”

Sen. Pia Cayetano also underscored DepEd’s preparedness to act on the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) recommendations: “What is so heartwarming is that many of the findings of EDCOM were very easily translatable into actionable action and final products because the Secretary was very familiar with it.”

Throughout the hearing, senators pressed DepEd on long-standing bottlenecks in the system even as they acknowledged that the department’s ongoing reforms are beginning to take clearer shape. DepEd laid out efforts already underway—the streamlined Senior High School curriculum, stronger TESDA-aligned certification for Tech-Voc tracks, and the pilot rollout of the new SHS curriculum. Lawmakers welcomed these developments as signs of a more coherent and responsive education agenda.

Infrastructure was also highlighted as a central pillar of improvement. With the Senate coordinating with DepEd to adopt multiple construction pathways—via LGU partnerships, PPPs, CSOs, leasing schemes, and direct DepEd-managed builds—the agency is expected to accelerate classroom construction and ease overcrowding more significantly in the coming years.
DepEd also confirmed plans to eliminate the nationwide teacher shortage through expanded hiring in 2026, widen digital connectivity for thousands of unserved schools, and deploy 10,000 school counselor associates to strengthen mental health and anti-bullying support across campuses.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara thanked the Senate for its strong endorsement of the agency’s budget,  saying it reflects a broader national commitment to push the country’s basic education agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Para sa amin sa DepEd, ang suporta ng Senado ay malinaw na patunay na buong bansa ang nakatutok sa muling pagbangon ng basic education. Ito ang pagkakataon para makapagtayo ng mas maayos na silid-aralan, makapagbigay ng mas matibay na suporta sa ating mga guro, at masiguro ang mas malusog at handa sa mundo ang mga mag-aaral. Gagawin naming kapaki-pakinabang ang halagang ito sa pamamagitan ng mga pagbabago na tunay na mararamdaman ng bawat Pilipino,” Angara said.

*All Photos from DepEd