PCO’s P1.1-B budget hike under review

The Senate subcommittee on finance will scrutinize the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCO) request to increase its proposed P2.8-billion budget for 2026 by an additional P1.1 billion.

Senator Loren Legarda, who chairs the subcommittee, said during a budget hearing on Friday the panel would carefully evaluate the request, particularly in terms of available fiscal space — the government’s capacity to increase spending or offer tax relief without endangering long-term financial stability.

“It is important that as the chief communicator of the government, the PCO and all its attached agencies are able to explain the process so that people are educated and duly informed,” Legarda said.

She noted that the national budget is “not static” and is subject to review and amendment.

At the hearing, PCO Secretary Dave Gomez justified the proposed increase, citing the need to fund the retrofitting of the 43-year-old Philippine Information Agency (PIA) building, the modernization of the People’s Television Network Inc. (PTNI), and the retirement benefits owed to former employees of the International Broadcasting Corporation (IBC-13).

PTV-4 needs higher budget

Gomez appealed to the committee to include the increase in the panel’s amendments before the proposed national budget reaches the Senate plenary.

“We are appealing to the committee to include our requested additional funding, primarily for PTV-4, as part of the proposed Senate committee amendments,” Gomez said.

He noted that PTV-4’s facilities were “in a very sad state” and required significant upgrades.

The PCO chief also stressed the urgency of retrofitting the PIA building to ensure its safety and functionality, and of settling the remaining 35 percent of retirement benefits owed to IBC-13 personnel.

According to Gomez, 65 percent of the benefits were paid last year, but the balance was not included in the current National Expenditure Program.