ONE of the leaders of the Young Guns of the House of Representatives on Tuesday clarified that the education sector remains the top priority in the 2025 national budget, debunking claims that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget surpasses education allocations.
Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jay Khonghun stressed that education continues to hold the largest share of government spending as enshrined under the Constitution, with its total budget exceeding DPWH funds by P22 billion.
“Base sa ating datos at figures sa 2025 national budget, malinaw na ang edukasyon pa rin ang may pinakamataas na pondo kumpara sa DPWH. Hindi totoo ang sinasabing mas malaki ang budget ng DPWH kaysa sa edukasyon,” Khonghun said.
“Fake news po ang kumakalat na paninira sa Kongreso. Hindi totoo na mas malaki ang budget ng DPWH kaysa sa edukasyon sa ating national budget,” he added.
According to official data, Khonghun said the total education budget is P1.055 trillion, while the DPWH budget stands at P1.033 trillion, resulting in a P22-billion difference in favor of education.
The education budget encompasses funding for agencies under the sector, including:
– Department of Education (DepEd): P782.17 billion
– Commission on Higher Education (CHED): P34.88 billion
– State Universities and Colleges (SUCs): P127.23 billion
– Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA): P20.97 billion
– Local Government Academy (LGA): P529.24 million
– Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA): P1.37 billion
– Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC): P994.3 million
– National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP): P334.64 million
– Philippine Military Academy (PMA): P1.76 billion
– Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System: P2.80 billion
– Science Education Institute (SEI): P7.49 billion
Additional funding for education-related infrastructure amounting to P14.76 billion and the salary differential under Executive Order No. 64 worth P60.59 billion further raises the total education budget to P1.055 trillion.
In comparison, the DPWH’s original allocation of P1.114 trillion is reduced by P82 billion in convergence projects. Even with the addition of P1.2 billion for salary differentials under E.O. No. 64, the net total for DPWH stands at P1.033 trillion.
“Malinaw po na hindi pinapabayaan ng administrasyon ang edukasyon. Pinakamalaki pa rin ang alokasyon para sa edukasyon dahil ito ang pundasyon ng ating kinabukasan,” Khonghun explained.
“Ang budget na ito ay tutugon sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga estudyante, guro at imprastruktura para sa kalidad na edukasyon,” he added.
Khonghun emphasized that prioritizing education is aligned with the constitutional mandate to allocate the largest share of the national budget to the sector.
He stressed that investments in education are crucial to developing the country’s human capital and addressing long-term development goals.
“The education sector’s funding will address critical gaps in classrooms, learning materials and teacher support, habang patuloy nating pinapaganda ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa,” Khonghun added.
“Hindi po natin binabalewala ang pangangailangan sa imprastruktura. Ngunit sa ilalim ng 2025 budget, malinaw na edukasyon pa rin ang may pangunahing pondo,” he stressed.
Khonghun also cited the leadership of Education Secretary Sonny Angara as a key factor in ensuring efficient and responsive utilization of the budget.
“Alam namin na sa pamumuno ni Secretary Angara, matutugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng ating mga guro at estudyante,” he noted.
