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.