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Bella Cariaso - The Philippine Star
January 9, 2026 | 12:00am
EDCOM 2 said at least P57.8 billion was allocated to the Local Government Support Fund, which includes funds to cover the conversion of day care centers to child development center standards by fourth and fifth class municipalities.
STAR / Edd Gumban
MANILA, Philippines — The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) lauded the significant budgetary support for early childhood education under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
EDCOM 2 said at least P57.8 billion was allocated to the Local Government Support Fund, which includes funds to cover the conversion of day care centers to child development center standards by fourth and fifth class municipalities.
It noted that this will also enable the full implementation of Republic Act 12199 or the Early Childhood Care and Development System Act.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara thanked President Marcos for allocating a record P1.35 trillion to the education sector, equivalent to 4.4 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
EDCOM 2 added that funding to support the initial creation of plantilla positions by local government units (LGUs) for child development workers is also allotted.
The 2026 budget also includes significant investments in upskilling of incumbent child development workers through a P226.9 million scholarship program under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
EDCOM 2 added that the government has also increased the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Supplemental Feeding Program and the Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program.
Under the School-Based Feeding Program, DepEd will provide nutritious meals to about 1.52 million kindergarten learners and 1.79 million Grade 1 learners for 200 feeding days.
An additional 1.18 million learners in Grades 2 to 6 who are classified as wasted or severely wasted will also receive meals for the same duration.
Massive SUC exodus
Meanwhile, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers yesterday warned that the decision of President Marcos to veto P43.245 billion could lead to the massive exodus of faculty members and staff in state universities and colleges.
ACT vice chairperson Carl Marc Ramota noted that the P10.772 billion or 25 percent of the P43.245 billion vetoed was originally intended for hiring of new personnel, including over 41,000 professors, instructors and administrative staff across various SUCs.
