By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Office of the President (OP) is seeking a 64-percent reduction in its proposed 2027 budget, but Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the lower funding will not prevent the Palace from carrying out its core government functions.
The OP is asking for PHP10.15 billion for 2027, sharply lower than the PHP28.03 billion appropriated for the office this year.
Recto said the proposed reduction is largely due to the streamlining of the OP’s 49 delivery units and the completion of activities related to the Philippines’ hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit this year.
“We are asking for less while remaining fully prepared to do more,” Recto said in a news release Sunday.
Despite the reduced allocation, Recto said the proposed budget would be enough to support the President’s regular official functions, including Cabinet meetings, policy consultations, presidential engagements and coordination among government agencies.
The budget would also fund the government’s response to emergencies, assistance programs for vulnerable sectors, monitoring of economic plans and efforts to protect national interests, he said.
Of the PHP10.15-billion proposal, PHP7.46 billion, or 74 percent, is earmarked for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses. Another PHP1.86 billion, or 18 percent, is allocated for Personnel Services, while PHP839 million, or 8 percent, is intended for Capital Outlay.
Recto acknowledged that the lower budget would not necessarily translate into fewer responsibilities for the Office of the President.
“Every day, the President’s schedule is full because the demands of governing do not pause. But activity alone is not our measure of performance,” he said.
He said the Palace would instead focus on ensuring that government policies, meetings, official engagements and missions produce concrete results, including employment and investments, stronger national security and improved public services.
The House Committee on Appropriations endorsed the PHP10.15-billion proposal on September 1 after lawmakers voted to terminate deliberations through what was described as “institutional and inter-branch courtesy.”
Recto said the proposed allocation was prepared in accordance with the rules and processes of the Department of Budget and Management.
“We sought no special treatment,” he said.
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