The fund will also used to improve the quality of operations.
According to Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, there will be a significant increase in the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) funding for public schools under the 2026 budget of the agency.
He said that under the DepEd will prioritize direct delivery of funds to the grassroots level, with the “per learner MOOE” for elementary students increasing to PHP2,792 from PHP2,140 in 2025 and PHP1,389 in 2024.
For Junior High Schools, the 2026 MOOE has allocated each student PHP2,631 from PHP2,201 in 2025 and PHP1,844 in 2024.
In Senior High Schools, there has also been an increase. Now, PHP3,264 have been allocated per student, compared to PHP2,784 in 2025 and PHP2,306 in 2024.
This additional funding will continue until 2027, when the proposed per-student allocation will reach PHP2,982 for elementary, PHP2,744 for Junior High School, and PHP3,558 for Senior High School.
Secretary Angara told that the increased funding allocation for students show that the government is giving priority to the welfare of each other learner by giving sufficient resources.
“Sa pagbuhos natin ng pondo diretso sa ating mga eskwelahan, tinitiyak natin na may sapat na kagamitan at suporta ang ating mga guro at mag-aaral para magtagumpay at makamit ang kanilang buong potensyal,” he added.
DepEd noted that the new MOOE allocation will mean the complete elimination of the previous rigid formula that used a fixed amount based on fixed inputs such as the number of students, teachers, classrooms, and graduates—a method that was considered detailed but complex.
Instead, the DepEd is implementing the Simplified Normative Funding Formula (SNFF), which both the enrollment and basic school data will be used to determine the minimum budget for each school to meet minimum service standards.
The SNFF is said to be more practical, as it aims to make the distribution of funds more equitable and faster, especially that instead of focusing solely on per capita costs, the normative approach identifies the more essential resources and services that each school needs to operate effectively.
According to the DepEd, the increased allocation in conjunction with the implementation of the SNFF is part of the government’s long-term commitment to ensure safe, well-equipped, and well-functioning learning spaces nationwide.
