DBM: OP’s Travel Funds Lower in 2025

MANILA — The Office of the President’s (OP) travel funds in the proposed 2025 budget are 8 percent lower compared to its travel allowance this year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced Thursday.

According to Philippines News Agency, in a Palace press briefing, the OP proposed PHP1.054 billion in travel funds for next year, which is PHP94 million lower than its PHP1.148-billion travel allocation in the 2024 General Appropriations Act. Pangandaman said the reduction suggests that the OP may have planned fewer travels for both local and foreign engagements next year based on its proposed budget.

Nevertheless, Pangandaman expressed confidence that the lower travel budget would not affect the government’s efforts to attract investments to the country. “We still continue to go out and parang kumbaga (it’s like) we market the Philippines as an investment destination – tuluy-tuloy po iyan (that will continue),” she said. She added, “Samantalang, iyong iba po may mga pinirmahan na po na mga memorandum of understanding and agreement ang ating Presidente 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 (Meanwhile, some of the memoranda of understanding and agreement signed with our President still need to be followed up to ensure that these investments that we gathered in the past will really arrive).”

According to the Board of Investments, PHP640.22 billion worth of projects were recorded in the first five months of the year due to investment pledges secured by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during his official foreign missions. These investments are expected to generate over 13,000 jobs.