No delay or cuts in pay, benefits under national budget — Palace

There will be no delays or reductions in salaries, pensions, and retirement benefits under the 2026 national budget, Malacañang said on Tuesday, debunking circulating claims of funding cuts as false and misleading.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) already clarified that all salaries, approved salary increases, and benefits of government employees remain intact and are fully funded in the budgets of their respective agencies.

“Mayroon pong gustong linawin ang DBM. May kumakalat na balita na maaantala o maapektuhan daw ang salary increases at retirement benefits ng mga guro, kawaninang gobyerno at uniformed personnel sa 2026 national budget. Hindi po ito totoo. Walang tinanggal na pondo (The DBM would like to clarify something. There is news circulating that the salary increases and retirement benefits of teachers, government employees, and uniformed personnel will supposedly be delayed or affected in the 2026 national budget. This is not true. No funds were removed),” Castro said during a Palace press briefing.

Castro explained that reports citing a supposed PhP24-billion cut stemmed from a misunderstanding, noting that the amount was merely realigned to the appropriate agencies to ensure a more direct, faster, and transparent release of benefits, particularly for uniformed personnel.

“Ang sinasabing PhP24 billion ay hindi binawas o kinansela, inilipat lang ito sa tamang ahensya para sa mas diretso, mas mabilis at mas malinaw na paglabas ng benepisyo lalo na para sa subsistence allowance ng uniformed personnel (The so-called PHP 24 billion was not reduced or canceled; it was merely transferred to the appropriate agency to ensure a more direct, faster, and clearer release of benefits, especially for the subsistence allowance of uniformed personnel),” she said.

She stressed that salary increases for both civilian employees and uniformed personnel are already included in their agencies’ budgets, emphasizing that there will be no delays or reductions.

“Buong-buo ang sahod at salary increases. Walang delay, walang bawas, walang mawawala (Salaries and salary increases are paid in full. No delays, no deductions, nothing will be lost),” Castro said.

The Palace Press Officer also assured that pensions of uniformed personnel will not be affected, adding that those opting for retirement will continue to undergo the existing process without disruption.

“Hindi apektado ang pensyon ng uniformed personnel. Mananatiling buo ang pensyon (The pensions of uniformed personnel will not be affected. The pensions will remain intact),” she noted.

On Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the PhP6.793-trillion national budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which aims to sustain reforms in education, strengthen health services, enhance food security, expand social protection, and promote job creation, while reinforcing anti-corruption safeguards.

Castro further said that the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) includes dedicated allocations under the Miscellaneous and Personnel Benefits Fund to address any additional funding needs.

“Kung kailangan naman ng karagdagang pondo para sa mga uniformed personnel na sumasailalim sa optional retirement, meron po tayong nakaantabay na pension and gratuity fund sa GAA (If additional funds are needed for uniformed personnel undergoing optional retirement, we have a pension and gratuity fund set aside in the GAA),” she said.

She added that a contingent fund is also available should the need arise.

“Kung ang mga ito po ay magkulang, mayroon pa rin tayong contingent fund na maaaring matakbuhan. Huwag po tayo magpaninlang, ikalat natin ang katotohanan (If these funds fall short, we still have a contingent fund that we can turn to. Let us not deceive; let us spread the truth),” Castro said.