Government allocates P977.6B education budget in 2025 for better schools, learning
The government has proposed a budget of P6.4 trillion for 2025, with education receiving the largest share at P977.6 billion. This allocation marks a slight increase from the P968.9 billion set aside for education in 2024.
Under the National Expenditure Program (NEP), education remains a top focus for the government, which is composed of several key agencies, including the Department of Education, State Universities and Colleges, the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The increased budget for education aims to address ongoing challenges in the sector, such as improving access to quality education and enhancing facilities.
Education Secretary Edgardo Angara has expressed support for increasing the salary of entry-level public school teachers, but this proposal is not included in the 2025 education budget.
Secretary Amenah Pangandaman of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) explained in a press briefing, “Hindi pa po ito nakakasama dahil noong nag-assume po sa posisyon si Secretary Angara, tapos na po iyong budget, nai-present na po namin kay Presidente [Marcos] at sa Cabinet. [This has not been included yet because when Secretary Angara assumed his position, the budget was already finalized and we had presented it to President (Marcos) and the Cabinet.]”
“But we gave him the opportunity to at least rearrange the priority programs within the level that was approved during the Cabinet meeting. Iyong increase po ng entry-level, I think it needs legislation. However, iyong increase po ng salary, iyon po ang nakasama na dito sa 2025 NEP. [The increase for entry-level positions, I think, needs legislation. However, the salary increase is already included in the 2025 NEP.],” she added.
She reported that for 2025, the youth employability programs under the Department of Labor and Employment have received P984.2 million for projects like the Special Program for Employment of Students (P828.9 million) and the Job Start Program (P155.2 million), reflecting an 84% increase from last year’s budget.
The proposed national budget, which has been turned over to Congress, is 5.66% higher than the P5.767 trillion budget for 2024 and represents 22.1% of the country’s gross domestic product.
Public works is the second-highest priority sector with an allocation of P900 billion, down from P997.9 billion in 2024, while the health sector will receive P297.6 billion, reduced from P308.3 billion.
