GOCC Subsidies Dip 30.52% in July, But Cumulative Total Soars

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT subsidies provided to government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) declined by more than 30% in July, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said. The BTr said subsidies amounted to P6.76 billion in July, down 30.52% from a year earlier. The government provides subsidies to GOCCs to help cover operational expenses not supported by their revenue. Agriculture-related government corporations received some of the highest subsidies in July, with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) receiving P2.23 billion. The Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. (PCIC) received P880 million and the National Dairy Authority P564 million. The Philippine Fisheries Development Authority and the National Food Authority (NFA) received P435 million and P405 million, respectively. The Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Food Terminal, Inc. (FTI), the National Electrification Administration, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp., the Small Business Corp., and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority received no subsidies in July. The July subsidies brought the running total in the first seven months to P121.34 billion, up 94.98% from a year earlier. The seven-month figure represents 39.3% of the P308.78 billion in subsidies budgeted by the government for 2026. In the first seven months, PhilHealth received the most subsidies at P60 billion. The NIA got P11.19 billion and FTI P10 billion. The NFA received P9.11 billion in the first seven months, while the PCIC received P3.18 billion. The Tourism Promotions Board and Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority received the lowest subsidies during the seven-month period at P28 million each. Other agencies that received minimal subsidies were the Philippine Tourism Authority (P35 million), the Southern Philippines Development Authority (P49 million), and the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (P70 million). — Justine Irish D. Tabile