Executive Secretary Ralph Recto has directed government agencies to accelerate the implementation of their 2026 budgets and finalize priority expenditures for next year in line with President Marcos ' push to improve public service delivery. Recto convened key Cabinet officials on June 22 for...
The Philippines’ more-than-three-decade-old devolution program remains incomplete, with local government units (LGUs) and national agencies continuing to share responsibilities for many basic services despite the 1991 Local Government Code (LGC), according to state-run policy think tank...
President Marcos’ economic managers are poised to lower the country 's economic growth targets as the lingering effects of state underspending, an infrastructure corruption scandal, and external inflationary pressures weigh down the near-term outlook. In an interview on TV5’s Money Talks,...
Government infrastructure spending plunged in the first four months of the year, failing to recover from a high-profile flood-control corruption scandal that triggered aggressive regulatory oversight and disrupted the processing of state funds. According to the latest national government...
The national government’s fiscal disbursement pace cooled in the first five months of the year as sluggish budget rollouts in the agriculture and education sectors countered an otherwise aggressive catch-up in infrastructure spending. According to data from the Department of Budget and Management...
The country’s rice imports surged 23 percent to nearly 2.4 million metric tons (MT) from January to May compared to the same period last year, as traders rushed to fortify inventories ahead of an expected dip in local production. Citing Bureau of Customs (BOC) data, the Congressional Policy and...
The national government will increase its tax allocations to local government units (LGUs) by nearly 11 percent to a record ₱1.32 trillion for fiscal year (FY) 2027, ramping up state spending to insulate regional economies from persistent global energy shocks. Based on Local Budget Memorandum...
Senator Loren Legarda demanded real funding for laws meant to strengthen the country’s education sector saying raising expectations through announcements and publicity that are not backed by actual funding would only give false hopes. Legarda made clear her position on the matter during the...
As a way to expedite the delivery of aid to earthquake-stricken Mindanao, Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima has filed a measure seeking supplemental funding for fiscal year 2026 to augment the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF). De Lima 's House...
Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday, June 11 urged the government to utilize the P180-billion worth of funds available under the 2026 national budget for emergency response and rehabilitation efforts in Mindanao. The Senate President Pro Tempore also emphasized the immediate...
Government agencies have so far saved a total of ₱2.9 billion by purchasing common-use supplies and equipment (CSE) and big-ticket items through the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) virtual store (VS) and eMarketplace, the government’s digital procurement platforms. According to...
BEYOND BUDGET Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. It’s back to school once again. For most children, the first day of school is a day of excitement. For parents, it is a day of both worry and hope. During my visits to different communities over the years, the parents I have met often...
