DBM PRESS RELEASE
October 10, 2024
Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah “Mina” F. Pangandaman says that the proposed P6.352 trillion national budget for fiscal year (FY) 2025 continues to prioritize social services, with education as top priority with P977.6 billion, equivalent to 15.4 percent of the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Anchored on the Philippine Development Plan 2023 to 2028, the budget aims to promote and strengthen the country’s human capital development through pouring heavy investment in education, health, and social protection.
Alongside the strengthening of the country's economy, investment will be poured in heavily in human and social development, making equitable education accessible, and bolstering the development and protection of the capabilities of Filipino individuals and families.
Education Remains as Top Priority
“As mandated by the Constitution, the Education Sector [composed of the Department of Education, State Universities and Colleges, Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority] will remain as top priority with a total budget of P977.6 billion,” DBM Sec. Mina Pangandaman said.
“This proposed budget is higher than the sector’s P968.9 billion allocation in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA),” Sec. Mina added.
The budget will support programs of the DepEd Philippines (DepEd), including the MATATAG Agenda for Basic Education. Higher allocations will also be provided for other vital education programs, such as the School-Based Feeding Program. Meanwhile, access to quality education will also be at the forefront of the government's education agenda through the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education and the Education Assistance and Subsidies.
Gov’t to continue providing cash assistance to vulnerable sectors
Under the FY 2025 NEP, the total allocated budget for cash assistance or “ayuda” is P253.378 billion to provide financial support to vulnerable sectors of society.
While constituting only a small portion of the total government spending, this allocation aligns with the objectives set in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, which focuses on implementing economic and social transformations, including the strengthening of every Filipinos’ capabilities by reducing their vulnerabilities and safeguarding their purchasing power.
The proposed FY 2025 allocation for cash assistance is lower than the budget allocated across agencies with financial assistance programs in FY 2020, wherein total appropriations in the GAA amounted to P357.5 billion.
For FYs 2021, 2022, and 2023, the allotted funds for the said purpose amounted to P200.9 billion, P276.8 billion, and P251.3 billion respectively.
Under the FY 2024 GAA, the total appropriations for ayuda or cash assistance programs amounts to P318.5 billion. This covers financial assistance programs being implemented by the Department of Agriculture (DA), including the Rice Farmers Assistance program and Fuel Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk; Department of Health's (DOH) Cancer Assistance Fund, Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially-Incapacitated Patients (MAIP); Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) Program; and other social protection programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), such as Ayuda sa Kapos Ang Kita Program, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances, Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, and granting of additional benefits to Filipino centenarians. The amount also provides funding for the implementation of Fuel Subsidy for transport sector of the Department of Transportation.
The budget allocation will ensure the continuous implementation of the abovementioned programs and other initiatives including the Philippine Food Stamp, one of the priority programs of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr..
