The budget for the School-Based Feeding Program will increase from ₱11.7 billion in 2025 to over ₱25 billion in 2026 under the Marcos administration.
During a press briefing in Malacañang, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the increase is part of what he described as a historic allocation for the education sector under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
“Kung babalikan po natin sa 2022, ang budget ng feeding program was only 3 billion. For 2026, it’s going to be 25—over 25 billion,” Angara said, referring specifically to the allocation for the School-Based Feeding Program.
“Unprecedented din ho siya in respect to spending on very important programs,” he added.
Angara also said the 2026 education budget totals more than ₱1.34 trillion, representing a 30% increase over the previous year and the largest increase he has seen during his time in public service.
He said the education sector’s allocation under the 2026 budget is notable not only for its size but also for meeting international spending benchmarks.
“At bukod sa pinakamalaking budget, at first time na pumasok po tayo sa UNESCO global standard na sinabing between 4 to 6% dapat ang gastusin relative to GDP or Gross Domestic Product,” Angara said.
He said the increased funding covers multiple education programs approved by Congress, including school feeding, tutoring, classroom construction, and personnel requirements.
Angara cited expanded funding for the ARAL Program, which he said is intended to address learning gaps through nationwide tutoring support.
He also pointed to a significant increase in the classroom construction budget, with funding now sufficient for up to 24,000 classrooms compared with previous annual levels of about 5,000 to 6,000 classrooms.
Angara said the 2026 budget also allows for the hiring of more than 65,000 teaching and non-teaching personnel across the public school system.
“So nagpapasalamat po tayo, ‘di lamang sa Pangulo, pero sa liderato din po at miyembro ng dalawang kapulungan—sa Senado at tsaka sa Kongreso,” Angara said.
