Senate panel OKs P10.5B budget for Office of the President

The Senate Committee on Finance has approved the proposed P10.5 billion budget for the Office of the President (OP) for 2025, with the proposal now moving to the plenary for further deliberation.

The budget was cleared in under 10 minutes due to parliamentary courtesy extended to a co-equal branch of government.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin represented President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. during the budget hearing.

The proposed OP budget for 2025 represents a 1.88% decrease compared to its 2024 allocation.

Bersamin assured that the slight reduction in funding will not hinder the President's service delivery to the Filipino people.

He further explained that the adjusted budget is sufficient for the President's duties as head of state and government, chief architect of foreign policy, and commander-in-chief.

The budget will still accommodate logistical needs for foreign state visits and diplomatic initiatives aimed at attracting job-creating investments for economic recovery.