SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian said the historic P19.5-billion allocation for education in the 2026 national budget could ensure that all public schools receive free textbooks. “Under the 2026 national budget, we have ensured that no student will be left without a book. If before, more than one student used each book, that is no longer the case,” Gatchalian said in Filipino. For decades, public school students have had to share textbooks due to limited government supply. The new funding aims to establish a one-student-one-textbook ratio across all grade levels under the Department of Education (DepEd). The move is also meant to support the nationwide rollout of the Matatag Curriculum, the government’s revised basic education framework designed to strengthen foundational skills, reduce subject overload and improve learning outcomes in public schools. During budget deliberations, the senator sought assurances from DepEd that the funds would be fully utilized. Gatchalian noted that in 2025, the department’s utilization rate for textbooks and other instructional materials stood at only 14 percent, raising concerns about procurement delays and implementation bottlenecks. Carmela Oracion, officer in charge undersecretary for learning systems at DepEd, told the Senate that the agency has already begun early procurement efforts. According to Oracion, the department has procured P7 billion worth of textbooks, which will be distributed to Grades 6, 9 and 10 — the final grade levels needing materials for the full implementation of the Matatag curriculum. The remaining P12 billion will be distributed to DepEd regional offices to support further textbook procurement and distribution across public schools nationwide. Education officials say providing complete textbooks is a crucial step in improving learning conditions in public schools, where shortages of instructional materials have long been cited as a factor affecting student performance. The initiative is expected to benefit millions of learners enrolled in the country’s K-12 basic education system, strengthening classroom instruction and ensuring students have consistent access to learning resources. The 2026 national budget is currently being implemented following its approval by Congress and enactment by the national government. Education remains one of the largest spending sectors in the government budget, reflecting efforts to address learning gaps and strengthen the country’s public education system.