OP requests PHP 27.28B for ASEAN Summit, intel funds

The Office of the President (OP) is requesting a PHP 27.28 billion budget for 2026, marking a 72% increase from the current year's PHP 15.8 billion.

A significant portion of this budget, approximately PHP 17.5 billion, will be allocated to hosting the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, which includes hundreds of meetings scheduled from late December 2025 until November 2026.

The OP plans to release PHP 10.7 billion directly and distribute the remainder to various government departments involved in organizing these events.

In addition to the ASEAN-related expenses, the OP is also requesting PHP 4.5 billion for confidential and intelligence funds, similar to the amount requested in 2025.

The budget includes PHP 1.01 billion for the President's domestic and international travel, a slight decrease from the previous year's allocation of PHP 1.2 billion.