The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) welcomed the enacted ₱1.34-trillion education budget under the General Appropriations Act of 2026, describing it as a significant improvement over the 2025 national budget—particularly in correcting the distorted prioritization that previously placed infrastructure spending ahead of education.

TDC noted that the 2026 GAA restores education as a top national priority, with the combined allocations for the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) now exceeding that of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)—a reversal of the controversial setup under the 2025 GAA.

TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said the group appreciates the increase in funding for learning resources, school feeding programs, classroom construction, the hiring of additional personnel, and other support services, stressing that the corrected budget framework reflects the validity of the concerns long raised by teachers and education stakeholders.

“We welcome this rectification of priorities in the 2026 GAA. This is a clear acknowledgment that education should never be treated as secondary to other sectors,” Basas said.

However, the TDC emphasized that the absence of any allocation for salary increases for teachers and DepEd personnel—beyond the meager adjustment under Salary Standardization Law (SSL) VI—remains a glaring omission, warning that budget growth without meaningful compensation reforms will not address the sector’s most urgent problems.

“We acknowledge the bigger budget, but it is deeply disappointing that teachers’ salaries were once again left untouched. The government cannot speak of education reform and recovery while continuously postponing justice for teachers,” Basas said.

He reiterated TDC’s call for the passage of a ₱15,000 across-the-board legislated salary increase, noting that full implementation would require only around ₱210 billion, or ₱84 billion if released in tranches, as provided under the proposed measure—an amount far smaller than allocations repeatedly granted to other sectors.

Last year, TDC—together with the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA) and the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), represented by Atty. Aaron Pedrosa of SANLAKAS—elevated the issue of the 2025 General Appropriations Act to the Supreme Court, questioning its constitutionality after it allocated more funds to DPWH than to the combined education agencies, in violation of the constitutional mandate that education be given the highest budgetary priority.

While education officials have described the 2026 GAA as a vote of confidence in ongoing reforms, the TDC maintained that genuine improvements in learning outcomes depend primarily on the welfare and dignity of teachers.

“A stronger budget is welcome. But without decisive investment in the people who actually deliver education every day, reforms will remain incomplete,” Basas said.

The TDC vowed to continue pushing for the ₱15,000 salary increase measure through Congress, underscoring that this demand will remain central to its legislative and mass actions, and calling on education leaders—especially Education Secretary Sonny Angara—to actively support this advocacy.

“If billions can be released swiftly for questionable projects and politically favored allocations, why does fair compensation for teachers remain so difficult to achieve?” Basas ended. #

For details:
Benjo Basas
0927-335-6375