PASAY CITY—Senator Bam Aquino, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, has declared a high-stakes crackdown on the misuse of government funds following the enactment of the 2026 General Appropriations Act. 

With a ₱1.34 trillion earmarked for education, Aquino is putting the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on notice. The mission is clear: ensure every single peso of the national budget is utilized for its intended purpose and eliminate the long-standing plague of corruption within these agencies.

Aquino emphasized that the committee will not tolerate "ghost projects" or "ghost students" that have historically drained public resources. This aggressive stance comes as a direct response to persistent reports of financial anomalies, shifting the focus from mere allocation to strict, accountable implementation. 

The Senator’s warning serves as a firewall against those who intend to siphon funds away from the nation's youth, promising that the 2026 budget will be the most heavily guarded in recent history.

Reinforcing his commitment to the Filipino people, Senator Aquino issued a stern directive to ensure the integrity of the education fund.

"Babantayan ng Committee on Basic Education yung tamang paggamit ng pera. Walang ghost project, walang ghost student. Sisiguraduhin natin na sa tamang presyo, sa tamang paraan ang paggamit ng pera para sa edukasyon ng bayan." Senator Aquino said in an interview.