The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is committed to improving the quality of education in the country, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Saturday.

She made the assurance as she addressed the 888 new graduates during the 81st commencement exercises of the Leyte Normal University (LNU) in Tacloban City.

In her speech, Pangandaman noted that under the 2023 national budget, the Marcos administration has provided the highest budget allocation of PHP909.1 billion to the education, culture, and manpower development sector.

“Specifically, the budget includes an allocation for basic education inputs, education assistance, and subsidies, universal access to quality tertiary education, and basic education facilities program,” she said.

“This is consistent with the Constitutional mandate to assign the highest budgetary priority to education and adherence to the President’s directive to continue empowering the youth.”

Pangandaman said her office, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), is careful in crafting a national budget to ensure that it is “responsive to the needs of the time and addresses the immediate and pressing concerns of all Filipinos.”

She said education would retain its huge chunk of the budget to give Filipino learners access to better learning tools and equipment.

“Sisikapin po namin na patuloy na bigyan ng mataas na pagpapahalaga ang sektor ng edukasyon dahil naniniwala kami sa kakayahan at ambag ng kabataan sa pagpapaunlad ng Bayan. Kaya hindi po kami papayag na pagkaitan ang mga kabataan ng oportunidad para matuto at malinang ang kanilang mga kakayahan (We will do our best to continue giving high importance to the education sector because we believe in the potential and contribution of the youth to nation-building. We will not deprive them of the opportunity to learn and cultivate their talents),” Pangandaman told the graduates of LNU’s College of Education, College of Arts and Sciences, and College of Management and Entrepreneurship.

The budget chief urged them to actively participate and cooperate for the fulfillment of the government’s bid to bring progress and development to the country.

“To the LNU graduates of 2023, as you reach for your individual goals, I urge you to take part and contribute to our national commitment. The country needs you,” she said.

“Join us in our crusade towards a better Philippines as we envision a nation where Filipinos can thrive, progress, and reach for their dreams.” (PNA)