Gov increases GAD funding to 16% of budget

The National Government has increased funding for Gender and Development (GAD) under the Marcos administration, with allocations rising from 3% to up to 16% of the national budget.

Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman announced this increase during an International Conference on Women, Peace, and Security, noting that P807.64 billion or 23 percent of the P3.513 trillion budget for national government agencies were allocated for GAD initiatives last year.

In 2024, P83 billion has been allocated for GAD, internally displaced persons, and disaster relief assistance, marking an 8.9% increase from the previous year's budget of P76.2 billion.

Around 65 percent of government agencies are implementing gender-sensitive infrastructure projects, with approximately P4 billion allocated in 19 for such initiatives.

The Public Financial Management Roadmap for 2025 to 2028 focuses on climate, disaster, and gender issues, aiming to improve compliance with gender budgeting across national and local government units.

Ms. Pangandaman highlighted the inclusion of a gender perspective in the New Government Procurement Act (RA 12009), which seeks to modernize procurement processes.