Latest news with #2026NationalExpenditureProgram
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Groups seeks higher budget for Marawi rehab, faster compensation of victims
The Marawi Compensation Board continues to process the claims of victims of the Marawi siege. (Photo from the MCB) An independent multi-stakeholder organization has called for a higher budget for the rehabilitation of Marawi and faster compensation of the victims of the siege. In a statement, the Marawi Reconstruction Conflict Watch (MRCW) appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and legislators to allocate a bigger funding for the process under the 2026 national budget to expedite the compensation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Marawi. Data from the Marawi Compensation Board (MCB) showed only 2,178 out of 14,495 claims have been processed as of August 2025, leaving more than 12,000 compensation claims yet to be paid. This totals to P20 billion. "We call for decisive actions such as increasing the programmed budget for Marawi compensation; providing a real-time updating system for claimants; and prioritizing the rebuilding of merit goods such as health and educational facilities damaged by the war," the MRCW said. "This funding is more important than the tens of billions used for restoring infrastructure that is rarely utilized because IDPs have not been able to rebuild their homes inside the city in the first place,' it added. The Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Program has a P1 billion proposed allocation under the 2026 National Expenditure Program. The MCB opened the applications for claims, including structural property, death, and personal property claims, among others, in July 2023. In May 2024, the MCB said it was eyeing to finish the disbursement of claims before the end of its term by 2028. 'At least 352 claims per month – that is the accomplishment rate needed to finish 12,000 compensation claims in the remaining 34 months until June 2028 when MCB becomes functus officio," Mcmillan Lucman, MRCW member and former Provincial Director of MILG-Lanao del Sur, said. 'The MCB has only resolved 2,000 claims so far. We hope to hear that the President will prioritize a speedy Marawi Compensation process. Marawi rehabilitation and rebuilding should focus on giving justice to war victims through the promised compensation,' Lucman said. He added: 'If we are expecting a faster compensation process, the allocated programmed budget for Marawi IDPs should also be increased.' Meanwhile, the MRCW also said the ground zero in Marawi remains in ruins eight years after the war. 'Marawi IDPs hoped that the compensation law would help heal the wound caused by the siege in 2017. More than eight years have gone by and Marawi's Ground Zero is still in ruins," said Mohammad Abas, MRCW member and executive director of Tabang Ako Siyap ko Bangsa Iranon saya ko Kalilintad ago Kapamamagayon (TASBIKKA) Inc. "P10 billion worth of big-ticket infrastructure projects in Marawi are rarely used by IDPs because they cannot rebuild their houses without their rightful compensation," he added. The siege, which started in May 2017, was perpetrated by the Maute Group and lasted for several months. Then-President Rodrigo Duterte declared the city freed from the group's occupation in October of the same year. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
DepEd to get P28B for classrooms, education facilities in 2026 NEP
DepEd said it will adopt flood and typhoon-resilient designs in its classroom, especially in flood zones. (File photo) The Department of Education (DepEd) has allocated P28 billion for next year to support basic education facilities, including the construction, repair, and rehabilitation of classrooms to help address the shortage and overcrowding of students in some schools. With a P863.3-billion budget under the 2026 National Expenditure Program submitted by Malacanang to Congress, DepEd will receive the lion's share of the P6.793 trillion national budget for next year. The amount for the basic education facilities will be allocated as follows: P13.24 billion: For the construction, replacement, and completion of kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school buildings and technical vocational laboratories; installation or replacement of disability access facilities; the construction of water and sanitation facilities; and site improvement such as school ground site levelling, slope protection, demolition of obstructions and unsafe structures, and construction of drainage system, fence and gate, among others, in all income class municipalities and cities. P2 billion: For the construction of kindergarten, elementary, and secondary medium-rise school buildings and technical vocational laboratories; installation or replacement of disability access facilities; construction of water and sanitation facilities; and site improvement. P56 million: For the construction of Alternative Learning System Community Learning Centers. P6.13 billion: For the rehabilitation, renovation, repair, and improvement of kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school buildings following the "Repair All Policy." among others; P500 million: For priority school health facilities for the construction, replacement, repair, rehabilitation of water systems, handwashing facilities, toilet facilities, and other health and sanitation-related facilities of the schools and their adaptation for accessibility of persons with disabilities to avoid the spread of diseases and ensure health and sanitation in schools; P209 million: For the conversion of Special Education (SPED) centers into Inclusive Learning Resource Centers (ILRCs) in various regions. P1 billion: For the construction, repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of library hub buildings. P1 billion: For the conduct of preliminary and detailed engineering activities such as site validation, subsoil exploration, perimeter survey, and geotechnical evaluation, including expenses for site validation activities, and the hiring of engineers. P2.61 billion: For the acquisition of school desks, furniture and fixtures to ensure that all newly constructed and existing kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school buildings are provided with the corresponding number of school desks, furniture and fixtures. P1.29 billion: For the electrification of unenergized schools or off-grid schools and modernization of electrical systems of on-grid schools. Overall, the 2026 budget proposal gives a significant boost to key DepEd programs, including P13.63 billion for the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) voucher program, P5.9 billion for textbook procurement, and P4.17 billion for the feeding program. Malacañang earlier emphasized that education remains the top government priority, noting that the proposed allocation is meant to address learning gaps, improve facilities, and upgrade teaching resources. The budget bill is now under congressional scrutiny ahead of the 2026 fiscal year. In a recent press statement, DepEd said its strategy incorporates a national classroom master plan using demographic trends and site-level data, aiming to program funds efficiently through the Basic Education Facilities Fund and Quick Response Fund. DepEd engineers will monitor construction, with inter-agency validation ensuring transparency and quality. Flood and typhoon-resilient designs are also being adopted—such as stilted classrooms and elevated structures with waterproofed roofing, particularly in regions like Bicol. DepEd also supports the proposed Classroom Building Acceleration Program (CAP) under Senate Bill No. 121, emphasizing that it should be built on the national master plan, with clear shared roles, priority targeting of high-need areas, and centralized monitoring. The education sector got the largest allocation in the proposed 2026 NEP—P1.224 trillion—upholding the constitutional mandate to prioritize education funding. This includes P928.5 billion for DepEd, P134.9 billion for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), P33.9 billion for CHED, and P20.2 billion for TESDA. Teachers' allowances were increased to ensure a doubled rate of P10,000 per month starting SY 2025–2026.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
DBM: AKAP not a priority but up to Congress to propose funding
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Friday said it is up to members of Congress to decide whether or not they would propose to fund the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) again next year, as the program received zero allocation under the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP). Pangandaman, however, maintained that AKAP—an assistance program for minimum-wage earners—is not included in the priority programs of the administration. "Basta po sa Executive, doon sa binigay nating proposal, hindi natin naisama sa 2026 NEP 'yung AKAP," she said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview. (For the Executive, we didn't include AKAP in the 2026 NEP.) "So, nasa Congress na po kung gusto nilang idagdag ito ulit. Pero sa amin ay hindi siya kasama sa priority programs," she added. (So, it is up to Congress if they will propose funding it again. But for us, it is not included in the priority programs.) To recall, there was also no allocation for AKAP under the 2025 NEP submitted by the Department of Budget and Management. The House of Representatives, however, allotted P39 billion for AKAP under its version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB). This was then deleted entirely under the Senate's version. During the bicam, the AKAP still received an allocation of about P26 billion under the final version of the GAB. The so-called budget "insertion" for AKAP was among the criticisms of the 2025 General Appropriations Act. Pangandaman stressed that some P13 billion in undisbursed AKAP allocations remain under the 2025 budget. "Medyo malaki pa po 'yung natitira. Puwede pang [magamit sa 2026…Two years validity ng budget]," she said. (A huge amount is still left. This can still be used in 2026 as the budget has a two-year validity.) Maybe a veto? Asked if the DBM would recommend to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to veto should the funding for AKAP still be included in the 2026 budget given the limited fiscal space, Pangandaman said, "Siguro po [maybe]." "Ang masakit po kasi 'pag nave-veto kunwari ilagay po nila tapos hindi natin priority tapos vineto natin, tapon na po 'yan. Hindi na natin magagamit, sayang…. Bababa na ang level ng budget natin. Sana nilagay na lang natin sa ibang programa na sa tingin natin mas makakatulong," she explained. (What's disheartening is that if we allocate funds for such, and it gets vetoed by the President because it's not a priority, then the funding will be removed entirely. We will not be able to use it anymore and our budget level will decrease. We could've used that funding for other projects that can be helpful.) Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing, chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, earlier said AKAP funding would be subject to consultation with members of the House of Representatives. Suansing said AKAP had been quite helpful for the constituents of House members. She added that the House of Representatives, as part of a bicameral Congress alongside the Senate, has the authority to introduce amendments to the proposed budget, provided that they are in line with the administration's priority programs. "But again, the House will follow the call of President [Ferdinand] Bongbong Marcos [Jr.] in making sure that the programs and the projects that we will fund for fiscal year 2026 are aligned with the priorities of the administration," Suansing said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Filipino Times
Marcos' proposed 2026 travel budget tops ₱1 billion despite cut from previous year
The proposed budget for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s local and foreign trips in 2026 has decreased from the previous year but remains above ₱1 billion. According to the 2026 National Expenditure Program, the Office of the President (OP) is seeking ₱1.018 billion for local and foreign missions and state visits—21 percent lower than the ₱1.2 billion allocated in 2025. The allocation is expected to pass as part of the 2026 General Appropriations Act, with lawmakers traditionally granting the OP's budget requests under parliamentary courtesy. Asked about the amount, Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the President regularly visits communities to monitor the situation during calamities and assess security conditions. 'You can also see the President's frequent travels as he encourages other countries to invest in our country,' Castro added. If enacted, Marcos' budget for local and foreign travel from 2023 to 2026 will total ₱4.6 billion—surpassing the ₱4 billion spent during former President Rodrigo Duterte's six-year term from 2017 to 2022. Marcos' most recent foreign trip was a state visit to India from Aug. 4 to 8, his 36th overseas trip since assuming office in 2022.
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
P11B proposed for TUPAD program in 2026
The government wants to continue its emergency employment program to disadvantaged individuals and displaced workers with the proposed P11 billion allocation to the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Under the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the labor and employment agencies, composed of the DOLE and Department of Migrant Workers, are set to receive P55.2 billion funding next year — among the top departments with the biggest proposed budget for next year. Of the figures, the DOLE will get P44.38 billion — lower than its P51.20 billion budget in 2025. The DMW, meanwhile, will receive P9.48 billion, higher than its P8.08 billion funding for this year. According to the NEP, a total of P12.24 billion will be appropriated for the DOLE's TUPAD program and the Government Internship Program (GIP). This amount is lower than the P18 billion budget of the two programs this year. Under the TUPAD program, beneficiaries will be working for 10 days in community clean-up, debris clearing, and rehabilitation of public infrastructures. They will be paid with the highest prevailing minimum wage rate in the region. TESDA Meanwhile, the Marcos administration likewise allocated funding for Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarship programs. This includes the training for work scholarship program (P4.34 billion); special training for employment program (P1.62 billion); and technical-vocational training programs (P5.05 billion). At least P300 million will also be appropriated for the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program, and P1.65 billion for the TESDA Tulong Trabaho Program. In July, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. touted major strides in the country's higher education sector, highlighting the expansion of TESDA scholarships and financial aid for poor families during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). Malacanang proposed a P6.79-trillion national budget for 2026.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
