DAVAO CITY, Philippines –— President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has approved the proposed P6.352-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2025. the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced on Tuesday.
This budget is designed to support the primary pillars of the administration’s Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
During the 17th Cabinet meeting at Malacañang Palace, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman presented the proposed budget. Marcos praised the plan, noting, “You see a really good thing. Since I’ve seen it before on the macro level, I think the priorities in terms of our proposed appropriations, upon addressing it, weighted our priorities properly.”
The major recipients of the proposed budget include the Department of Education, state universities and colleges, the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Public Works and Highways, PhilHealth, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of National Defense.
Other top priorities are the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Department of Transportation, and the judiciary.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) highlighted that the administration’s ultimate goal is social and economic transformation, positioning the Philippines as a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society. The Bagong Pilipinas governance and leadership framework guides these strategic directives.
In the education sector, the proposed budget aims to enhance the MATATAG curriculum to produce competent, job-ready, active, and responsible citizens. The budget also prioritizes the acceleration of the Universal Health Care Act.
The largest portion of the budget is allocated to maintenance and other operating expenses, followed by personnel services, capital outlays, and financial costs.
The PCO explained that the government’s evaluation of the 2025 budget proposals considered factors such as the availability of fiscal space, implementation readiness of Program/Activity/Projects (PAPs), the agency’s absorptive capacity, alignment with the Budget Priorities Framework, and the PDP 2023-2028.
Additionally, the Public Investment Program (PIP), the Three-Year Infrastructure Program (TRIP), the Information Systems Strategic Plan (ISSP), and Program Convergence were also key considerations.
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