BBM working to make budget ‘optimal’

After receiving a slightly different budget for 2025 compared to the submitted National Expenditure Program (NEP), President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration was working on making the budget “optimal.”

“Perhaps the budget as was passed, you could describe it as suboptimal. But we are remedying that situation,” Marcos told reporters.

He said the administration was reviewing the projects listed in the NEP, and will look for funds to continue them.

“For the projects that were in the NEP that didn’t receive allocations, we are looking for savings to restore those funds. Like the case in education and in health,” he said.

This past week, Marcos held meetings with various government agencies to discuss the allocated budgets per department, as well as to tackle concerns in programs that did not receive the necessary funding, for instance the Department of Tourism’s (DoT) branding budget.

On Wednesday, the DoT asked that its P400 million branding budget be restored.

According to Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, the insufficient funding for the DoT would lead to setbacks such as reduced engagements with target audiences, fewer trade and consumer activation opportunities, and the absence of global media placements.

Marcos and the DoT aim to ride on the momentum of the recent accomplishments of Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo and The Voice US champion Sofronio Vasquez to promote the Philippines.

The President assured the DoT the budget will be restored through the Department of Budget and Management.