Senator Bam Aquino called for increased education funding equivalent to 4% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2027, identifying three priorities to improve Philippine schools.

During a Senate Finance Subcommittee B hearing on Friday, October 16, Aquino highlighted the Classroom Acceleration Program to address the classroom backlog, the Expanded National Nutrition Program to provide universal feeding for kindergarten to grade 3 pupils, and the proposed School Safety Act to protect students from violence and 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 said.

The Senate Committee on Basic Education chair urged the Department of Education, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Budget and Management, and other agencies to ensure education funds directly benefit students and teachers.

He also raised concerns over budget cuts affecting the proposed school feeding expansion.