DBM Press Release
DEPARTMENT of Budget and Management Sec. Amenah Pangandaman reiterated on Monday, September 29, the Marcos administration’s commitment to bolster funding for the education sector, saying she will coordinate closely with Congress to secure swift approval of increased allocations, particularly for State Universities and Colleges.
Pangandaman underscored that education is a flagship priority in the National Expenditure Program.
“Education has always been our number one priority under the NEP,” she stressed.
“Few days ago, the President mentioned the reallocation of DPWH funds for priority programs - and kasama po sa pupuntahan n’yan ang education sector. We stand with this realignment, and we will make sure it is implemented properly so that our students, teachers, and SUCs receive the support they deserve,” said the DBM chief.
Her remarks came in the wake of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to reallocate a portion of the ₱255.5 billion set aside in the DPWH’s flood control budget to priority programs.
The President ordered that funds be diverted to agencies such as the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
In compliance with the order of Malacañang, Pangandaman called on Congress to act with urgency in approving higher appropriations for SUCs.
She warned that without timely legislative support, universities and colleges may struggle to cope with a projected increase in enrollment.
“It is our hope that Congress will heed this call and put more resources where they matter most - in preparing our youth for the future,” she said.
The DBM chief made it a point to reassure students, parents, and educators that DBM will remain responsive to funding requests from SUCs.
“With enrollment in State Universities and Colleges projected to rise in 2026, the DBM will be ready to support whatever funding requirements our SUCs need to brace for this challenge,” she said.
She added: “Investing in education is an investment in the nation’s future. Providing sufficient resources for SUCs will not only address immediate enrollment pressures but will also strengthen the country’s long-term human capital development.”
The timing of the reallocation is significant, as the proposed 2026 budget for basic and higher education has reached ₱1.224 trillion, equivalent to 4.0 percent of GDP — marking the first time the country has met UNESCO’s recommended threshold. Of that amount, ₱134.99 billion is earmarked for SUCs.
Pangandaman also addressed concerns about the cut in the DPWH’s flood control budget, estimating that removing the ₱255 billion in locally funded flood control projects would not significantly affect the country’s infrastructure overall spending.
“What’s important is that we still get to implement key projects like school buildings, hospitals, and infrastructure that supports our agriculture sector,” she said.
The DPWH had already pared down its proposed 2026 budget from more than ₱881 billion to ₱625.78 billion by removing duplicate or completed projects amounting to ₱255.53 billion.
Pangandaman assured stakeholders that legitimate obligations under existing contracts will continue.
At the same time, critics and lawmakers are raising alarm over a potential funding gap. Senator Bam Aquino, citing projections from the Philippine Association of State Colleges and Universities has said that SUC enrollment - currently at 1.97 million students - could rise by 300,000 in 2026, bringing the total to 2.27 million.
He warned that the DBM’s package might fall short by ₱3.29 billion if allocations don’t match projections.
In response, Pangandaman affirmed the DBM’s openness to adjustments. She said the department is prepared to work closely with legislative counterparts to calibrate funding levels that reflect realistic enrollment projections.
“We must ensure alignment between projections per SUC and the corresponding Free Higher Education funding - so that no institution is left behind or underfunded,” she said, echoing calls from Senate leadership.
Pangandaman also emphasized the administration’s use of the Program Convergence Budgeting approach, which seeks to reduce overlapping programs and maximize resources across agencies. She said the method ensures that funds are matched with outcomes and that duplicative spending is minimized.
Looking ahead, the DBM chief vowed that her office will remain vigilant in monitoring the implementation of reallocated funds. She said transparency and accountability will be central to ensuring that redirected budget lines indeed reach their intended recipients in education and other priority sectors.
In closing, Pangandaman reiterated her call for unity: “We anticipate that Congress will work in tandem with the DBM to fulfill our shared commitment to education. This is not an issue of politics, but of providing real opportunity for our students, uplifting our institutions, and securing a brighter future for the country.”
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DBM PRESS RELEASE
Ika-29 ng Setyembre 2025
Pangandaman: “DBM tutulong sa pagtiyak ng sapat na pondo para sa edukasyon”
MULING tiniyak ni Department of Budget and Management Sec. Amenah Pangandaman nitong Lunes, Setyembre 29, ang matatag na suporta ng administrasyong Marcos sa sektor ng edukasyon, sa pagsasabing makikipag-ugnayan siya sa Kongreso upang matiyak ang agarang pag-apruba ng karagdagang pondo para sa mga State Universities and Colleges.
Binigyang-diin ni Pangandaman na pangunahing prayoridad sa National Expenditure Program ang edukasyon.
“Education has always been our number one priority under the NEP,” aniya.
Tinukoy din ng kalihim ang naging pahayag kamakailan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hinggil sa muling paglalaan ng pondo mula sa Department of Public Works and Highways para sa mga prayoridad na programa, kabilang ang sektor ng edukasyon. “Kasama po sa pupuntahan nyan ang education sector. We stand with this realignment, and we will make sure it is implemented properly so that our students, teachers, and SUCs receive the support they deserve,” dagdag ni Pangandaman.
Kamakailan ay iniutos ng Pangulo na ilihis ang bahagi ng ₱255.5 bilyong nakalaan sa flood control budget ng DPWH tungo sa mga ahensiya tulad ng Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Kaugnay nito, nanawagan si Pangandaman sa Kongreso na agarang aksyunan ang pag-apruba ng mas mataas na pondo para sa SUCs upang hindi mahirapan ang mga ito sa inaasahang pagdami ng mga mag-aaral.
“It is our hope that Congress will heed this call and put more resources where they matter most - in preparing our youth for the future,” pahayag ng kalihim.
Tiniyak din ni Pangandaman sa mga estudyante, magulang, at mga guro na mananatiling bukas ang DBM sa pagtugon sa mga kahilingan ng SUCs. “With enrollment in State Universities and Colleges projected to rise in 2026, the DBM will be ready to support whatever funding requirements our SUCs need to brace for this challenge,” aniya.
Dagdag pa niya: “Investing in education is an investment in the nation’s future. Providing sufficient resources for SUCs will not only address immediate enrollment pressures but will also strengthen the country’s long-term human capital development.”
Mahalaga ang timing ng muling paglalaan ng pondo sapagkat umabot na sa ₱1.224 trilyon ang panukalang 2026 budget para sa basic at higher education, katumbas ng 4.0 porsyento ng GDP - na unang pagkakataon na naabot ng bansa ang rekomendasyon ng UNESCO. Sa naturang halaga, ₱134.99 bilyon ang nakalaan para sa SUCs.
Tinalakay din ni Pangandaman ang pangamba sa pagbawas ng pondo ng DPWH para sa flood control, at ipinaliwanag na hindi gaanong maaapektuhan ang kabuuang gastusin para sa imprastruktura. “What’s important is that we still get to implement key projects like school buildings, hospitals, and infrastructure that supports our agriculture sector,” aniya.
Matatandaang ibinaba ng DPWH ang panukalang 2026 budget mula ₱881 bilyon tungo sa ₱625.78 bilyon matapos alisin ang mga duplicate o tapos nang proyekto na nagkakahalaga ng ₱255.53 bilyon. Tiniyak ni Pangandaman na ang mga lehitimong obligasyon sa ilalim ng umiiral na kontrata ay ipagpapatuloy.
Samantala, nagpahayag ng pangamba ang ilang mambabatas sa posibleng kakulangan ng pondo. Ayon kay Senador Bam Aquino, batay sa pagtataya ng Philippine Association of State Colleges and Universities, maaaring umabot sa 2.27 milyon ang enrollees ng SUCs sa 2026 mula sa kasalukuyang 1.97 milyon. Binalaan niya na posibleng magkulang ng ₱3.29 bilyon ang nakahandang package ng DBM kung hindi ito tatapatan ng sapat na alokasyon.
Bilang tugon, iginiit ni Pangandaman ang kahandaan ng DBM na makipagtulungan sa lehislatura para iakma ang pondo ayon sa makatotohanang projection ng enrollment. “We must ensure alignment between projections per SUC and the corresponding Free Higher Education funding - so that no institution is left behind or underfunded,” aniya.
Binigyang-diin din ng kalihim ang paggamit ng administrasyon sa Program Convergence Budgeting approach upang maiwasan ang pag-uulit ng programa at matiyak na epektibong nagagamit ang pondo.
Sa huli, tiniyak ni Pangandaman na mahigpit na babantayan ng DBM ang paggamit ng inilipat na pondo at itataguyod ang transparency at accountability. Aniya, “We anticipate that Congress will work in tandem with the DBM to fulfill our shared commitment to education. This is not an issue of politics, but of providing real opportunity for our students, uplifting our institutions, and securing a brighter future for the country.”
