President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has articulated a powerful vision for the country’s education system, expressing a fervent hope that the long-term reforms currently underway will be firmly institutionalized, establishing quality education as an undeniable right for all Filipinos, extending well beyond his administration.
In the latest installment of the BBM Podcast, which aired on Thursday, the President emphasized the enduring nature he desires for these critical changes.
“Education is one of those things that I hope we can get started in such a way na kahit wala na ako dito, kahit na wala na kami dito, my administration is no longer here, that this will continue, masanay ang tao so that it becomes a right. And if it is taken away from you, you can demand that it be brought back,” President Marcos stated.
Engaging in a candid discussion with college students, the President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the education system, a commitment reflected in the proposed PhP1.38 trillion education budget in the 2026 national budget—a record high allocation.
President Marcos assured that State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) would not be neglected, noting:
The budget for the maintenance and continued operation of SUCs is a substantial PhP185 billion.
The rest of the funding is strategically directed towards strengthening primary education—the “foundation” that has been critically weak.
The President pointed to long-term neglect as the root cause of the current challenges, particularly the severe shortage of learning facilities.
“Na-neglect natin yung education napakatagal. Biruin mo, we have a 160,000 shortage of classrooms,” he noted, contrasting this with a scenario where consistent annual construction could have prevented the crisis. “So kailangan natin maghabol (We need to catch up). So we are spending it number one, of course, on classrooms.”
President Marcos vowed a comprehensive effort to address all critical concerns in the sector, including:
Accelerated Classroom Construction: Finding innovative ways to build classrooms more quickly to close the massive backlog.
Teacher Support: Enhancing resources and backing for educators.
Modern Equipment and Connectivity: Addressing the lack of computers and internet access in numerous schools.
Basic Facilities: Ensuring all learning environments are conducive and functional, down to the most essential school facilities.
“We are addressing every aspect of the country’s education system… down to the toilet in the school. Hanggang doon kailangan natin ayusin lahat,” the President concluded, underscoring the granular level of his administration’s focus on the education system.
