Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian commended the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) for earning an outstanding rating from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) after achieving a 100-percent budget utilization rate for 2024.
During the Senate budget hearing, Gatchalian lauded PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta and her team for their efficiency and transparency, making PAO the only government agency to fully utilize its allocated funds.
The DBM also gave PAO a perfect score of “5” among justice sector agencies, citing its timely and effective implementation of programs.
Rueda-Acosta credited the achievement to the integrity and dedication of PAO lawyers and staff, emphasizing their mission to serve indigent Filipinos nationwide.
With a proposed ₱6.41-billion budget for 2026 and a 99.93-percent fill-up rate for lawyer positions, PAO continues to expand access to justice and community outreach programs.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 29, 2025
