The Office of the President (OP) has proposed a P1.054-billion budget for its travel expenses for the fiscal year 2025, which is eight percent lower than the approved budget for the current year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Thursday, Aug. 1.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office/Facebook)
DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said this during a Palace media briefing, wherein she also revealed that President is expected to travel less in 2025 as seen in the lower budget allocation.
“It is 94 million or eight percent decrease compared to 1.148 billion allocations in the 2024 General Appropriations Act. Bumaba po siya ng eight percent (It decreases by eight percent),” she added.
“Kung makikita po natin dito sa proposal nila siguro may nabawasan po silang travel both local and foreign (We can see in their proposal, maybe they will have less travel both local and foreign).”
However, she still assured that the Marcos administration is still focused at presenting the Philippines as an investment destination.
“Parang na-explain ko naman po dati together also with DTI and kami rin po sa economic team – we still continue to go out and parang kumbaga (I had already explained before together also with DTI and and also us in the economic team — we still continue to go out and it’s like) we market the Philippines as an investment destination – tuluy-tuloy po iyan (that will continue),” Pangandaman explained.
She also underscored the need to follow up the signed memorandum of understanding and agreement to ensure that these investments will bear fruit.
“Kailangan pa rin po mayroon din pa pong follow-ups itong mga ito para to ensure na makarating nga itong mga investments na nakalap natin noong mga nakaraang taon (These need follow-ups to ensure that these investments that we gathered in the past year will push through),” she stressed.
Marcos’ foreign trips have been a subject of criticism since he took office, but he maintained the need for the increased engagement for possible foreign investments.
In total, the OP’s proposed budget for 2025 is P10.446 billion, including confidential funds at P2.250 billion and intelligence funds at P2.310 billion.