QUEZON CITY, Philippines — Multiply-Ed Philippines stands firm in demanding a more transparent, genuine participation, and stronger accountability in the budget process, particularly in including the youth and CSOs in the budget discussions, and not just mere observers.
‘Participatory budgeting’ does not stop at being informed
Multiply-Ed Philippines, through its Amplify Education Budget (Amplify-Ed) Campaign, participated in the three key budget events conducted by the House of Representatives, particularly the civil society organization (CSO) turnover of the budget, orientation on the CSO guidelines on participation, and DBCC Briefing on sources of financing.
Given the education gaps and the worsening education crisis, the call is not just for youth and CSOs to become sideline observers, but for a more profound participation. While the House Resolution No. 94 offered to institutionalize the presence of budget watchdogs, it offers an additional burden of bureaucracy, through the accreditation process, for a level of engagement that can be done as actively as before.
CSOs and youth are not decorations. CSO participation should not be lip service. Deepening CSO integration should include an expansive space for input, and consideration of the people’s feedback on the proposed budget.
Fix the gaps, fund the margins
Drawing from the Multiply-Ed grassroots monitoring of 90 public senior high schools nationwide, Multiply-Ed estimates that fully addressing basic education input gaps for all public senior high schools alone would require ₱437,429,061,584.19. When applied across all public schools, this amount could reach ₱1.702 trillion—much closer to the recommended 6% allocation. These findings highlight persistent shortages in classrooms, textbooks, teachers, laptops, and learner support programs, with ₱1.6 billion needed immediately for urgent needs in X-Ed–covered schools all over the country.
In line with the 2026 Inclusive Education Budget Agenda, Multiply-Ed is pushing for increased funding for underfunded and undersupported programs that serve marginalized learners, including Indigenous Peoples’ Education (IPEd), the Madrasah Education Program, Special Education (SPED), and Gender and Development (GAD) initiatives. If we want a truly inclusive education system, we must fix the gaps and fund the margins.
Genuine Transparency, Participation, and Accountability (TPA)
For three years, X-Ed, through its Amplify-Ed campaign, has remained one of the few youth-led organizations engaging in advocacy as technical as budgeting. The worsening education landscape has continuously renewed our call for greater transparency, participation, and accountability in the budget process. While we recognize the bigger education budget this year, there is a need to ensure that every peso reaches the farthest classrooms and learners who need it most.
This year, our call is stronger than ever. Genuine transparency, participation, and accountability (TPA) in the budget process, open bicam, fix the gaps, and fund the margins! 𝘈𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘪 𝘑𝘶𝘢𝘯, 𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯!
