LIVE: House hearing on DOT's 2026 budget

MANILA, Philippines — The House Committee on Appropriations resumed the hearing into the proposed P6.793 trillion 2026 national budget on Wednesday, September 2.

The panel, chaired by Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing (Nueva Ecija, 1st District), is deliberating on the spending plan for the Department of Tourism.

Under the proposed 2026 national budget, the DOT and its attached agencies are seeking P3.7 billion, while P1.3 billion is eyed for the Tourism Promotions Board to showcase the Philippines as a world-class destination for travel, meetings, conferences and exhibitions. The proposed budget is a slight increase from its P3.3 billion budget proposal for 2025.

Last month, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco shared that the budget for the Department of Tourism’s branding and promotions program has been reduced, with only P100 million allocated for these efforts in 2025. She made the statement during the Senate Committee on Tourism’s organizational meeting and briefing.

“Our branding and promotions budget has steadily declined. From P1 billion before the pandemic, to P1.2 billion in 2023, down to P200 million in 2024, and only P100 million in 2025,” she said.

Watch the House hearing into the 2025 National Budget for DOT on Sept. 2, 2025.