President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government has set aside more than P1.30 trillion this year to strengthen the country’s education sector, calling the investment a key part of empowering Filipinos and improving national institutions.
Speaking during the 3rd Commencement Exercises of the West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Law in Iloilo City on Friday, Marcos said the quality of the justice system depends heavily on the education and training of those who will eventually serve in it.
“This Administration recognizes that the strength of our justice system depends greatly on the quality of those who will serve within it,” Marcos said.
According to the President, the education budget reflects the government’s belief that national progress begins with developing the skills, knowledge, and capacity of the people.
“This year, we have allotted over P1.30 trillion for the advancement of education,” he said.
Marcos also led the inauguration of the university’s new College of Law building, which he described as part of the government’s commitment to supporting the next generation of Filipino lawyers and public servants.
The four-story facility is designed for both classroom instruction and practical legal training. It includes six classrooms that can accommodate 40 students each, a review room, two moot courts, offices, and other support facilities.
First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos, who serves as a faculty member of the university, attended the event along with other government officials.
Marcos earlier said the education sector received the largest allocation in this year’s national budget, amounting to P1.345 trillion or 4.36 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.
He said the funding will help the government hire more public school teachers, ease teacher workload, implement learning recovery programs in reading, mathematics, and science, expand school-based feeding initiatives, and build more classrooms.
According to Marcos, the allocation also marks the first time the Philippines has surpassed the global benchmark for education spending.