THE Office of the President (OP) is seeking a ₱10.156-billion budget for 2027, representing a 64 percent reduction from its allocation this year, as the administration expects lower operating requirements in the coming fiscal year.
The proposed budget was presented Tuesday before the House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing.
Bataan Rep. Albert S. Garcia, the committee’s senior vice chair who presided over the budget briefing, said the proposed allocation would allow the Office of the President to continue fulfilling its constitutional and administrative responsibilities while responding to the needs of the Filipino people.
Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto attributed the sharp decline in the proposed funding to lower operational requirements for 2027. He noted that the OP’s 2026 budget included expenses related to the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit.
Despite the reduced allocation, Recto said the Office of the President would remain capable of performing its functions amid continuing domestic and international challenges.
“In short, we are asking for less while remaining fully prepared to do more,” Recto told lawmakers.
He also underscored the administration’s commitment to fiscal discipline and accountability, saying public funds should be managed responsibly and translated into government services that benefit Filipinos.
Recto further cited the Commission on Audit’s issuance of an unmodified opinion on the OP’s 2025 financial statements. It marked the office’s third consecutive unmodified opinion since 2022.
“This is a badge of good housekeeping,” Recto said, emphasizing that the audit finding demonstrates that public funds are properly accounted for and that the government respects the public’s trust.
During the hearing, lawmakers also expressed support for several policies of the Marcos administration. Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez backed the proposed budget, citing the President’s foreign policy toward China and government programs providing assistance to farmers and fisherfolk.
Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan subsequently moved to extend institutional and interbranch courtesy to the Office of the President and end further deliberations and interpellations on its proposed budget.
The committee approved the motion, 37-5.
Garcia said the concerns and recommendations raised by House members during the hearing would be forwarded to the Office of the President for appropriate responses before or during the plenary deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget.
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