Economic team OKs P53.25-B fund for education, water
The Economic and Development (ED) Council has greenlit a P53.25-billion loan to fund projects aimed at improving the quality of education and expanding access to clean water and sanitation.
The amount will be sourced from the World Bank through official development assistance (ODA).
Of the total, P38.27 billion will go to the Department of Education’s Project for Learning Upgrade Support and Decentralization (PLUS-D), which seeks to enhance learning outcomes and strengthen education management from 2026 to 2032.
The project will introduce system-level reforms, provide targeted support to schools and establish stronger monitoring and evaluation mechanisms across public schools.
“This project underscores the government’s commitment to human capital development—ensuring that education reforms reach every Filipino learner, especially those in disadvantaged areas,” said Arsenio Balisacan, Secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development.
“By strengthening schools and supporting teachers, we hope to create better learning environments that enable every child to achieve their full potential,” said Balisacan, who is also vice chair of the ED Council.
PLUS-D is aimed at improving literacy and numeracy among Kindergarten to Grade 6 students, and raise reasoning and math proficiency among junior high school learners.
The remaining P14.98 billion will fund the Accelerated Water and Sanitation Project in Selected Areas project. This is aimed at expanding access to safe water and sanitation services in some communities in Loboc in Bohol, Siargao Island and Jolo.
The project combines capital investments with policy and institutional reforms to sustain water and sanitation service delivery.
“Reliable access to clean water is essential to a community’s well-being and development. Through this project, we aim to deliver lasting solutions that safeguard public health, support livelihoods and uplift the quality of life of Filipino households,” Balisacan said.
