MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has announced measures to address funding deficiencies faced by various government agencies in the 2025 budget. This comes after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called for solutions to augment what he described as a “suboptimal” national budget due to congressional budget cuts.
In a statement released Wednesday, the DBM clarified the President’s directive to ensure sufficient funding for critical legacy projects and programs affected by changes in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“Pursuant to the directive of the President, the DBM is committed to remedying the funding deficiencies of various departments for FY 2025 through appropriate measures,” the statement read.
The DBM outlined several ways to address these deficiencies, including modifying existing allotments, utilizing savings for augmentation, or tapping into the Contingent Fund and Unprogrammed Appropriations. These measures will adhere to the conditions and requirements under the GAA.
Savings, as defined in Section 77 of the GAA, may come from unused funds within an agency’s budget and can be reallocated according to Section 78 rules on augmentation. The Contingent Fund can also be used to support urgent projects or activities upon the President’s approval.
Unprogrammed Appropriations may be employed for infrastructure and social programs under SAGIP, subject to excess revenue certification from the Bureau of the Treasury.
President Marcos has also tasked government agencies with reviewing their programs to identify savings and reprioritize projects that align with administration goals. This directive was issued during a Cabinet meeting on January 7.
“We are one with the President in addressing validated funding deficiencies. Nevertheless, the process and procedures to be undertaken shall strictly adhere to budgeting, accounting, and auditing laws, rules, and regulations,” the DBM emphasized.
President Marcos is currently holding meetings with various agencies to assess budget reviews and find solutions to offset the impact of congressional cuts, particularly for socioeconomic initiatives.
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