Marcos Jr. signs ₱6.326T budget, vetoes education funds

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed a P6.326-trillion national budget for 2025 but vetoed some items, including education-related programs under unprogrammed appropriations.

The veto includes a reduction of P5 billion from the Department of Education's (DepEd) Computerization Program, bringing the total cut to P15 billion and prompting President Marcos Jr. to vow working on restoring the budget cut.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said his department remains committed to inter-agency cooperation with DBM and DOF to explore funding mechanisms that will enable them to deliver their mandate despite cuts.

Teachers' groups, including the Teachers' Dignity Coalition, have warned that the budget cut will deny teachers and learners access to computers and the internet and would make it more difficult to address a shortage in classrooms.

Despite these concerns, the overall budget for education still exceeds that of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), with a difference of around P48 billion.

The signed 2025 national budget will take effect on January 1, 2025.