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PASAY CITY, November 27, 2025 – The Senate on Thursday approved the Php8.9-billion proposed budget of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) for 2026, a move Senator Loren Legarda described as a holistic investment in “peace, security, and education budget rolled into one.”
OPAPRU is under the leadership of Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Carlito G. Galvez, Jr.
The Senate approved the additional Php 1.7 billion for the Educational Assistance Program (EAP) to the OPAPRU’s original Php 7.2 billion allocation under the National Expenditure Program (NEP). The OPAPRU budget breezed through the Senate.
In her manifestation, Senator Legarda emphasized that education is vital in the transformation process of former combatants and for support for Indigenous Peoples (IPs), serving as a powerful deterrent against recruitment by armed groups.
“Under the Senate Committee Report, OPAPRU’s budget increased by Php1.7 billion. This supports the Educational Assistance Program for decommissioned combatants of the MILF and MNLF, their family members or next of kin, and eligible Indigenous Peoples (IPs). This program provides Php50,000 per learner per school year to enable access to formal education,” Legarda stated.
“This is a peace, security, and education budget all rolled into one. We all know that in conflict-affected communities, education is a proven deterrent to recruitment, a pathway to economic mobility, and a stabilizing force that strengthens both identity and civic engagement,” she emphasized.
Legarda noted that the funding aligns with the socioeconomic component of the Normalization Track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), making it a crucial element of the ongoing peace process.
Investing in Human Capital
The additional Php1.7 billion is projected to aid 32,000 beneficiaries. The EAP aims to help former combatants and their families acquire the skills necessary for sustainable livelihoods, effectively reducing the risk of re-recruitment and ending the recurring cycle of violent radicalization and insurgency.
This educational assistance is part of broader normalization and transformation programs across various peace tables. By providing access to education for the children and dependents of combatants, the government improves long-term economic prospects and opens pathways for sustainable human development.
Furthermore, the program strengthens peacebuilding initiatives by promoting social cohesion, reducing marginalization, and fostering community resilience.
Legarda expressed optimism that the increased allocation would be retained during the Bicameral Conference Committee deliberations.
“I hope and pray that this increase in the Senate budget for OPAPRU — for peace, security, and education for our combatants — will not be deleted in the bicam(eral committee). This is very important,” she said, while advising OPAPRU to ensure the strict and efficient implementation of the program.
Bipartisan Support for Peace
Senator Legarda also commended Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, for ensuring the inclusion of the education budget for the peace agency.
“I commend the Chair for heeding and listening during the budget hearings and committing to it at that time,” Legarda said.
In response, Senator Gatchalian acknowledged Legarda’s pivotal role in pushing for the educational intervention.
“Thank you, Senator Loren. You are the reason why we have this intervention, especially on educational assistance. During the hearing, we learned from Secretary Galvez that among the many requests of those returning to mainstream society, education is their top priority,” Gatchalian said in Filipino.
“I know they have many needs, but if there is one thing they truly wish to receive from our government, it is educational assistance. It is good because they place a high value on the education of their children and, of course, the future of their families. That is why, upon your suggestion during the hearing, we included this in our committee report. We are the ones who should thank you,” Gatchalian added. (/)