Manila: More than 21 million Filipino learners are expected to benefit from the proposed PHP10.8-billion learning recovery program under the 2027 national budget, targeting persistent gaps in Reading and Mathematics.

According to Philippines News Agency, funding for the Project for Learning Upgrade Support and Decentralization (PLUS-D) Program is part of the Marcos administration's push for targeted, evidence-based interventions to address the learning crisis. This six-year initiative, in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the World Bank, aims to support localized learning interventions in over 11,000 schools nationwide.

The program will focus on learners from Kindergarten to Grade 10, including those enrolled under the Alternative Learning System. Unlike a one-size-fits-all approach, PLUS-D will give participating schools and regional offices greater flexibility to identify learning gaps using their own data and develop appropriate interventions. These may include teacher training and coaching, learning materials, assessments, digital tools, and other measures suited to the needs of individual schools and communities.

The proposed investment comes as the country continues to grapple with weak foundational learning outcomes. In his budget message, Marcos cited findings of the Second Congressional Commission on Education showing that learning outcomes among Filipino students continue to decline as they progress through grade levels.

DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert De Leon highlighted that the proposed funding is intended to translate education spending into concrete support for learners, teachers, and schools. De Leon emphasized, 'More than maintaining institutions, these investments focus more on addressing learning losses, supporting our teachers, keeping young Filipinos in school, improving skills, and building the human capital that will determine our country's competitiveness for decades to come,' during the presentation of the 2027 National Expenditure Program to Congress.