Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson pressed the Executive Department Monday to guard the education sector’s budget from a repeat of last year’s congressional “miracle” where it was overtaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), in violation of the Constitution.
Lacson warned the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) not to become an “accessory” again to the potential violation of the 1987 Constitution.
“You need to remind legislators not to realign too much because we may be violating the Constitution. When you potentially violate the Constitution, that’s a major, major, major issue,” he told Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman in Filipino, at the briefing by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).
In Filipino: Lacson sa Ehekutibo: Protektahan ang Badyet ng Edukasyon, Panindigan ang Konstitusyon
For 2025, the DPWH got a budget of P1.007 trillion, eclipsing the P977.6 billion for the education sector, which constitutionally includes the Department of Education, State Colleges and Universities, Commission on Higher Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Under Art. XIV, Sec. 5 (5) of the Constitution, the State shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching attracts and retains the best talent through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment.
To correct the shift, the DBM “added” to the education sector institutions outside the President’s budget message, such as the Local Government Academy, Philippine National Police Academy, Philippine Public Safety College, National Defense College of the Philippines, Philippine Military Academy, Philippine Science High School System, and the Science Education Institute.
“Why did we allow the DPWH to get a bigger budget than the education sector? I hate to say this but the DBM became an accessory after the fact, to justify the congressional miracle where the education sector’s budget was slashed,” Lacson remarked.
Pangandaman argued that the Constitution does not categorically define the education sector, but Lacson replied that the President’s 2026 budget message indicated the education sector’s budget covers only the DepEd, SUCs, CHED, and TESDA.
Lacson reminded the DBM “to be consistent next time” and not allow a repeat of what happened last year. He emphasized closer coordination between the legislature and the Executive Branch, especially at the bicameral conference committee where major realignments occur.
“Watch the progress of the budget bill, especially at the bicameral conference committee. We know that is where the biggest realignments occur,” he said.
Lacson also suggested that if Congress again mangles the budget bill to favor the DPWH or other agencies,, the President should veto the “excess” amount.
“My suggestion is that if Congress again mangles the budget, the President should veto the amount exceeding the budget of the education sector so that the budget of the DPWH or any other agency will not be bigger than that of the education sector, since the executive department cannot realign funds,” he said. “We agree,” Pangandaman replied.
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Lacson sa Ehekutibo: Protektahan ang Badyet ng Edukasyon, Panindigan ang Konstitusyon
Nanawagan si Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson sa Ehekutibo nitong Lunes na bantayan ang badyet ng sektor ng edukasyon para hindi na maulit ang “milagro” sa Kongreso noong nakaraang taon, kung saan nalampasan ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) ang badyet ng edukasyon – isang paglabag sa ating Saligang Batas.
Binalaan ni Lacson ang Department of Budget and Management (DBM) na huwag muling maging “accessory” sa posibleng paglabag sa 1987 Constitution.
“(I-remind ang mga mambabatas na) huwag na kayong lumabis kasi Constitution na ang ating vina-violate… pag Constitution na, major, major, major issue na yan,” sinabi niya kay DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman sa briefing ng Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).
Para sa 2025, nakatanggap ang DPWH ng badyet na P1.007 trilyon, mas mataas kaysa P977.6 bilyon para sa education sector, na sa ilalim ng Konstitusyon ay kinabibilangan ng Department of Education (DepEd), State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Ayon sa Art. XIV, Sec. 5 (5) ng Konstitusyon, dapat italaga ng Estado ang pinakamataas na prayoridad sa badyet para sa edukasyon at tiyakin na ang pagtuturo ay nakakaakit at nakakapagpanatili ng pinakamahusay na talento sa pamamagitan ng sapat na sahod at iba pang paraan ng kasiyahan at katuparan sa trabaho.
Upang “itama” ito, isinama ng DBM sa “education sector” ang ilang institusyon na wala sa budget message ng Pangulo, gaya ng Local Government Academy, Philippine National Police Academy, Philippine Public Safety College, National Defense College of the Philippines, Philippine Military Academy, Philippine Science High School System, at Science Education Institute.
“Bakit natin pinayagan na maungusan ng DPWH ang budget ng education sector? Worse, I hate to say this, kayo, accessory after the fact, jinustify nyo ang ginawang milagro sa Kongreso, binawasan ang education sector,” ani Lacson.
Iginiit ni Pangandaman na hindi tahasang tinutukoy ng Konstitusyon kung ano ang bumubuo sa education sector, ngunit iginiit ni Lacson na malinaw sa budget message ng Pangulo para sa 2026 na sakop lamang nito ang DepEd, SUCs, CHED, at TESDA.
Pinaalalahanan ni Lacson ang DBM na maging “consistent” at huwag nang hayaang maulit ang nangyari noong nakaraang taon. Binigyang-diin din niya ang mas malapit na koordinasyon sa pagitan ng lehislatura at Ehekutibong Sangay, lalo na sa bicameral conference committee kung saan nangyayari ang malalaking realignment.
“Pakibantayan ninyo na lang especially sa bicam. We know nandiyan ang pinakamalaking mga culprits, I won’t mention names pero nandiyan lumalabas ang katakot-takot na realignments,” dagdag niya.
Nagpanukala rin si Lacson na kung muling babawasan ng Kongreso ang badyet ng edukasyon at mas bibigyan ng pondo ang DPWH o iba pang ahensya, dapat i-veto ng Pangulo ang sobrang halaga.
“My suggestion is, kung tirahin na naman ng Kongreso ito, i-veto ng President ang additional para huwag lumamang ang DPWH or any agency’s budget over the education sector’s budget kung binawasan nila kasi di kayo pwede mag-realign,” aniya. “We agree,” tugon ni Pangandaman.
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