PASAY CITY — Senator Bam Aquino has pressed for a substantial boost in the country’s education allocation, proposing a funding level equivalent to 4% of the gross domestic product (GDP) for the year 2027 while laying out three core focal points to upgrade local academic institutions.
Speaking during a Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee B hearing on Friday, October 16, Aquino emphasized key initiatives intended to resolve long-standing systemic gaps. These include the Classroom Acceleration Program designed to tackle classroom shortages, the Expanded National Nutrition Program aiming to deliver universal feeding for pupils from kindergarten up to grade 3, and the proposed School Safety Act to shield students against violence and external threats.
“I am hoping that we can get back to 4 percent of GDP for education as a whole. We want to ensure that education in our country is properly funded. Education should never be politicized—it is for all Filipinos, for every Filipino child,” Aquino stated.
As the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Aquino called upon key government bodies—including the Department of Education, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Department of Budget and Management—to guarantee that education appropriations translate directly into tangible support for both learners and educators.
In addition, the lawmaker raised apprehensions regarding recent budget reductions that threaten the planned expansion of school feeding initiatives.