One of the leaders of the Young Guns of the House of Representatives 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.
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): P 127.23 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.
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.
Khonghun also cited the leadership of Education Secretary Sonny Angara as a key factor in ensuring efficient and responsive utilization of the budget.*
