BUDGET HIKE. Senator Loren Legarda presides over the deliberations on the proposed 2025 budget of the Presidential Communications Office at the Senate on Thursday (Oct. 3, 2024). Legarda said she is looking at proposing an increase in the PCO’s budget to help the agency inform the people of the government’s programs and services. (Photo courtesy of Senate PRIB)
MANILA – The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Thursday got a commitment from Senator Loren Legarda for its proposed 2025 budget to be increased.
This, after Legarda found some of the programs of the agency interesting, particularly the Barangay Information Officers Network of the Philippine Information Agency.
"We suspend the briefing but we consider the budget as approved subject to an increase after my study. I will not decrease you," Legarda said before concluding PCO's budget deliberation.
"If you give me good proposals then I can always increase your budget," she said.
Under the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the PCO, along with its attached agencies and corporations, is proposing to spend PHP2.281 billion next year.
The PCO proper is asking PHP2.4 billion but was reduced to PHP713.3 million under the 2025 NEP.
"Gusto ko pang makita ang epekto ng kanilang pagpapatupad ng kanilang mandato. Bago lang yung nakaupo ngayon, si Secretary (Cesar) Chavez, kaya gusto ko silang tulungan para maiparating sa taumbayan ang lahat ng maaaring itulong ng gobyerno sa pinaka liblib na lugar (I want to see the impact of the implementation of their mandate. The one who is sitting now, Secretary Chavez, is new, so I want to help them in informing the people of all the government services to the most remote areas)," Legarda said in a press briefing after the deliberation.
Legarda, who authored the People's Television Network Inc. or the PTV4's charter, is set to meet with its officials to be briefed on its current programming.
She is also set to meet with officials of the Apo Production Unit, as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs, to discuss the potential data breach issue which may affect passport holders. (PNA)
