Office of the President Assures Functions Unaffected by Proposed Budget Cut

The proposed 64% reduction in the Office of the President’s (OP) budget for 2027 will not affect its ability to carry out its functions, Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto said on Sunday. In a statement, Mr. Recto said the OP is seeking a P10.15-billion budget for 2027, down from the P28-billion allocation for the current year, as the agency streamlines its operations and completes activities related to the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit. “It is equivalent to one-seventh of one percent of the proposed P7.2 trillion national budget,” Mr. Recto said, adding that the proposed allocation remains sufficient for the OP to oversee government operations, respond to emergencies and coordinate public services. “We are asking for less while remaining fully prepared to do more,” he told members of the House of Representatives. The proposed budget includes P7.46 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses, P1.86 billion for personnel services, and P839 million for capital outlays. Mr. Recto said the funds would support Cabinet meetings, policy consultations, presidential engagements and the daily operations of Malacañang, as well as assistance to vulnerable sectors and responses to contingencies. “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. The House appropriations panel has endorsed the OP’s proposed 2027 budget. “We sought no special treatment,” Mr. Recto said, adding that the agency’s budget was prepared under the processes set by the Department of Budget and Management. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking