ASSISTANT Majority Leader and Zambales Representative Jay Khonghun, a key member of the Young Guns of the House of Representatives, affirmed on Tuesday that the education sector remains the government’s top priority in the 2025 national budget. He refuted claims suggesting the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget surpasses education funding, calling such allegations baseless.
“Based on our data and figures for the 2025 national budget, it is clear that education still receives the highest allocation compared to DPWH. The claim that DPWH gets a larger budget than education is fake news,” Khonghun asserted.
Education Sector Leads with P1.055 Trillion Allocation
Khonghun explained that the education sector’s total budget stands at P1.055 trillion, surpassing the DPWH’s P1.033 trillion by P22 billion. This allocation adheres to the constitutional mandate to prioritize education above all other sectors.
The breakdown of the education budget includes:
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
Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System: P2.80 billion
Science Education Institute (SEI): P7.49 billion
Additional allocations include P14.76 billion for education-related infrastructure and P60.59 billion for salary differentials under Executive Order No. 64, bringing the total education budget to P1.055 trillion.
DPWH Budget Adjusted for Project Reductions
The DPWH’s initial budget of P1.114 trillion was reduced by P82 billion for convergence projects, leaving a net total of P1.033 trillion, which includes P1.2 billion for salary adjustments under E.O. No. 64.
“Clearly, the administration prioritizes education. This budget addresses the needs of students, teachers, and infrastructure, aiming to improve the quality of education nationwide,” Khonghun emphasized.
Commitment to Education and the Nation’s Future
Khonghun underscored that prioritizing education aligns with the administration’s long-term development goals.
“The education budget will address critical gaps in classrooms, learning materials, and teacher support, while enhancing the overall quality of education. While infrastructure remains important, education is the foundation of our nation’s future and continues to be the top priority,” he said.
Strong Leadership and Accountability
Khonghun praised the leadership of Education Secretary Sonny Angara for ensuring the budget is utilized effectively to meet the sector’s needs.
“With Secretary Angara at the helm, we are confident that the requirements of our teachers and students will be met efficiently,” Khonghun concluded.
This statement reinforces the government’s commitment to education as a vital pillar for national progress and development.
About the Author
