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Back to headlinesAugust 18, 2026, 1:00 PM PHT

Education · Budget

DBM Defends Proposed ₱976-Billion DepEd Budget and 6,587-Classroom Target

The education spending proposal is being tested against the country's classroom shortage and implementation capacity.

By FMB News DeskPublished August 18, 2026, 1:00 PM PHT2 min read
FMB News editorial visual for the DepEd budget and classroom programFMB News editorial visual
FMB News editorial visual accompanying the proposed education-budget report.FMB News editorial visualLicense details

Why this matters to Filipinos

FMB News connects the verified facts and evidence in this report to the decisions, costs, opportunities, and risks that may affect Filipinos, Philippine communities, and the country.

Editorial standard: Sources are listed below. Verified reporting, attributed claims, uncertainty, and analysis remain distinct.

Verified facts

What happened

The approved FMB News package reports that budget officials defended a proposed ₱976-billion Department of Education allocation during House scrutiny of the 2027 National Expenditure Program.

The package says the proposal includes financing associated with 6,587 new classrooms and public-private partnership infrastructure.

Context

Context

The figures belong to the proposed 2027 spending plan and are not yet final enacted appropriations. Congress can amend agency allocations before passage of the General Appropriations Act.

Filipino relevance

Why this matters

Classroom shortages affect class size, learning conditions and access. The effectiveness of a large appropriation depends on procurement, site readiness, construction capacity and project delivery.

What to watch next

What to watch next

Watch House budget hearings, DBM tables and DepEd implementation plans for changes to the proposed amount, classroom count and delivery model.

Sources and public record

Department of Budget and Management: Official budget information (August 18, 2026, 12:00 PM PHT)House of Representatives: Official House budget deliberations (August 18, 2026, 12:00 PM PHT)