The Department of Tourism (DOT) has proposed a budget of P3.394 billion for fiscal year 2025, a 13.46 percent increase from its recent P2.99 billion budget allocation.
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said the funding aims to enhance the Philippine tourism sector, which is vital for economic growth and improving the country’s global profile.
Of the total proposed budget, P2.84 billion, or 84 percent, is designated to the DOT’s Office of the Secretary (OSEC).
Furthermore, P384 million is earmarked for the National Parks Development Committee, P146 million for the Intramuros Administration, and P25 million for the Philippine Commission on Sports Scuba Diving.
The budget breakdown reveals that 68.51 percent will be used for maintenance and operating expenses, 22.52 percent for personal services, and nearly 9 percent, approximately P304 million, for capital outlay.
The capital outlay will fund initiatives such as the DOT OSEC's Information Systems Strategic Plan for 2025, vehicle procurement for smaller agencies, and solid waste management in Intramuros.
Frasco underscored the importance of ongoing investment in tourism, which she argues contributes to national prosperity and enhances the livelihoods of many Filipinos.
Despite a 6.3 percent reduction compared to this year’s General Appropriations Act, Frasco stressed the critical need for sustained support to maintain progress and achieve the Philippines’ potential as a premier global tourism destination.