House wraps up OP budget talks

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives terminated plenary deliberations yesterday on the proposed P10.16-billion budget for the Office of the President (OP) for 2027, along with those of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Presidential Management Staff (PMS) and the Department of Tourism (DOT).

Rep. Albert Garcia, senior vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, described the proposed OP budget as largely an operating budget, with P7.46 billion allotted for maintenance and other operating expenses.

Garcia said that the proposed funding comprises only 0.14 percent of the total P7.2 trillion national budget.

He also noted that the proposed budget is 64.02 percent lower than OP’s P28.03-billion allocation for this year, mainly due to the completion of locally funded projects, particularly those related to the country’s hosting of ASEAN 2026.

Even excluding the ASEAN-related expenses, Garcia said the OP’s regular programs were trimmed by P392.52 million, or 3.75 percent from the previous year.

The House also terminated plenary deliberations on the proposed P2.62-billion budget of the PCO and its attached agencies for 2027.

The budget will support the government’s timely provision of accessible information about government policies, programs and services, even as the agency strengthens its presence across traditional and digital platforms.

The House also approved the proposed P851.39-million budget of the PMS for 2027.

At the same time, the chamber also terminated on Tuesday plenary deliberations on the proposed P5.47-billion budget of the DOT.

“Tourism is an investment that multiplies; the government may provide the first peso but tourism allows that peso to move through our economy,” appropriations vice chairperson Rep. Bernadette Escudero said.

Under the proposed P5.47-billion budget, one billion is allocated for DOT’s global branding campaign while P1.37 billion has been provided for the tourism promotion’s board.

Budget ‘railroad’ hit

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan denounced what it described as the railroading by the House of Representatives of the budget of the Office of the President.

Bayan secretary general Raymond Palatino criticized the “collusion” of Malacañang and Congress in embedding pork barrel and other items in the P7.2-trillion 2027 General Appropriations Bill.

He said nearly half of President Marcos’ budget is allotted for confidential and intelligence funds which should have warranted scrutiny from lawmakers.

“The hasty approval of the President’s budget is reminiscent of the Marcos dictatorship which reduced Congress into a mere rubber stamp institution,” Palatino said in a statement.

Palatino added more than P107 billion were designated for flood control projects despite irregularities involving infrastructure projects that remain unresolved.

He lamented the inadequate subsidies given to the agriculture, health and education sectors.

“We should make sure that Marcos and his allies are not given new opportunities to legitimize the kickbacks they are getting from pork barrel projects,” he said.