Insider Spotlight
The Philippine Business for Education, Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines, and the Association of Foundations said Angara’s emphasis on transparency, data-driven policymaking and collaboration gives stability to the reform environment.
Why it matters
The private sector’s unified stance strengthens the administration’s push to channel more resources into basic education while demanding that the increased funding translates into measurable gains for learners, teachers and schools.
In a statement, Angara welcomed the support, emphasizing the administration’s direction.
“The direction set by President Marcos to invest strongly in human capital provides us with the foundation to push reforms that matter,” he said. “Our commitment is to ensure that every peso is used effectively and that learners, teachers, and parents feel the impact in their classrooms and communities.”
State of play
DepEd received P1.044 trillion in the Senate version of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, and the Department echoed calls to align spending with global benchmarks while tightening accountability during bicameral deliberations.
Recent internal reforms include the launch of DepEd Open Data (Project BUKAS), accelerated and flexible classroom procurement processes and a shift toward evidence-based policymaking to strengthen implementation discipline.
Zoom in
Angara underscored that his leadership has expanded partnerships with the private sector, development organizations, publishers and philanthropic groups to support teacher upskilling, digital learning, curriculum enhancement and learning remediation.
International partners like UNICEF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNESCO, USAID and SEAMEO-INNOTECH are helping complement government efforts through technical support and program collaboration.
“These partnerships help us rebuild confidence in the public school system,” Angara said. “They bring expertise, innovation, and accountability into the work of improving learning outcomes.”
The bottom line
The renewed trust from major business and education institutions, as emphasized in the final paragraph of the release, signals momentum toward a “more stable, data-driven, and collaborative reform environment”—one that places human capital at the center of national economic strategy. —Daxim L. Lucas | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
