Young Budget Watchdogs to Government: “Babantayan Namin” the 2026 Education Budget

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Quezon City, Philippines — In a political climate where billions can be lost in the shuffle of bureaucracy, a group of determined young Filipinos is sending a loud, unflinching message to the government: “Babantayan namin.”

Today, Multiply-Ed Philippines, through its Amplify-Ed Coalition and Bantay Budget Network, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow civil society organizations (CSOs) as the House of Representatives turned over the 2026 Proposed National Budget documents. For the group, this symbolic handover is more than ceremony—it is a battleground for public participation, transparency, and accountability.

A Bigger Budget, But Still Not Enough

The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to receive a sizable boost—from ₱734 billion in 2025 to ₱928.5 billion in 2026. Yet, Multiply-Ed is quick to remind lawmakers that while the increase is welcome, it’s still far from the internationally recommended 6% of GDP for education spending. By their calculations, that benchmark should translate to around ₱1.71 trillion—nearly double the proposed allocation.

Grounded in its grassroots monitoring of 90 public senior high schools nationwide, Multiply-Ed estimates that filling all the gaps in basic education inputs for public senior high schools alone would cost ₱437.43 billion. If this estimate is scaled across all public schools in the country, the figure reaches a staggering ₱1.702 trillion—almost exactly what global standards demand.

From dilapidated classrooms to the chronic shortage of textbooks, teachers, laptops, and essential learner support programs, the group paints a sobering picture. In schools under Multiply-Ed’s Extended Education (X-Ed) program alone, urgent needs require an immediate ₱1.6 billion.

Demanding Open Books and Open Doors

“The ceremonial turnover is a step in the right direction,” the group said, “but it must be matched with real, ongoing public access. The national budget is public money—it should be open to scrutiny and participation at every stage.”

Multiply-Ed is calling for the full and immediate release of the 2026 budget documents in a format accessible to ordinary citizens, not just policymakers and technical experts. Transparency, they argue, is not an optional courtesy—it’s a democratic right.

Their demands also extend to the most guarded part of the budget process: the bicameral conference committee (BiCam) deliberations. Traditionally conducted behind closed doors, these meetings determine the final shape of the budget before it is signed into law. Multiply-Ed insists it is time to “Open the BiCam” to public view, dismantling the culture of secrecy that allows last-minute insertions and questionable reallocations to slip by unnoticed.

Funding the Margins for True Inclusion

For Multiply-Ed, an “inclusive education system” means one that doesn’t leave behind the most marginalized learners. As part of its 2026 Inclusive Education Budget Agenda, the coalition is pushing for higher allocations to chronically underfunded programs:

Indigenous Peoples’ Education (IPEd)

Madrasah Education Program

Special Education (SPED)

Gender and Development (GAD) initiatives

“These programs serve the students who are most at risk of being left behind. If we want a truly inclusive education system, we must fix the gaps and fund the margins,” they stressed.

From Ceremony to Citizen Power

The turnover of budget documents might have looked like a formal handshake between legislators and CSOs, but Multiply-Ed sees it as a call to arms—a reminder that citizen vigilance must be constant, not seasonal.

Their commitment is crystal clear: they will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the education budget and actively engage throughout the legislative process to make sure public money serves the public good.

“Babantayan namin,” they vowed—three words that carry the weight of both a promise and a warning. For those in power, it’s a reminder that the nation’s youth are not just students of politics—they are watchdogs of democracy.

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