President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. (PCO file Photo)
MANILA – The Office of the President’s (OP) travel funds in the proposed 2025 budget is 8 percent lower compared to its travel allowance this year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Thursday.
In a Palace press briefing, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the OP proposed PHP1.054 billion in travel funds for next year, which is PHP94 million lower than its PHP1.148-billion travel allocations in the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
Pangandaman said the OP may have reduced its planned travels for both local and foreign next year based on its proposed budget.
Nevertheless, the Budget chief is confident that the lower travel budget of the OP will not affect the government’s thrust to lure 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.
“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),” she said.
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 bagged by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in his official foreign missions.
Over 13,000 jobs are expected to be generated by these investments. (PNA)
