THE Philippines is entering a historic fiscal year for education in 2026, but Sen. Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV warns that a record-breaking budget does not automatically guarantee financial relief for the nation’s educators.
While the 2026 education budget has hit a milestone P1.38 trillion, Aquino is pushing for the “Angat Sweldo Para sa Guro Act” to ensure the country’s “fiscal win” translates directly into the bank accounts of its most essential workers.
For the first time in history, the education budget has reached 4.5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), finally meeting the United Nations’ international standard. This massive allocation includes P68 billion for classrooms, P67 billion for free college tuition, and P25.6 billion for school feeding programs.
However, Aquino argues that infrastructure and programs are only half the battle. He raised the alarm over a critical discrepancy: P43.24 billion intended for salary upgrades was shifted to “unprogrammed appropriations.”
In government terms, this means the money is not guaranteed; it is only available if the government collects excess revenue or secures foreign loans. Aquino is calling for absolute transparency, demanding the executive branch ensure these funds are guaranteed rather than contingent.
“Teachers are overworked, underpaid, and significantly lack support,” Aquino saod.
He added: “Two out of three teachers report working on over 50 non-teaching tasks. We cannot expect our children to excel if their mentors are overburdened by administrative hurdles and financial stress.”
To counter this uncertainty, Aquino is championing Senate Bill No. 127, or the Angat Sweldo Act. The measure seeks to provide a P10,000 monthly compensation increase for public school teachers and qualified non-teaching staff, implemented over three years.
“To solve the lack of support for teachers, I filed Angat Sweldo Para SA Guro Act which seeks to grant 10,000 monthly compensation to all public school teachers and qualified non teaching personnel over the next three years and we will work closely with Deped in addressing the lack of administrative support for teachers,” Aquino said.
The salary hike is the flagship of Aquino’s “Seven-Point Agenda” to solve the education crisis. The agenda also prioritizes:
The Teacher in Every Barrio Act: Providing incentives for educators willing to serve in remote areas.
E-Textbook Para sa Lahat: A bill ensuring free digital access to learning materials.
The Classroom-Building Acceleration Program: A law encouraging private-sector partnerships to close the 165,000-classroom backlog.
By prioritizing the “Angat Sweldo” initiative in 2026, Aquino aims to do more than reduce burnout. The goal is to invite the best and brightest back into the classroom, signaling a new era where teaching is once again a financially dignified profession.
