President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged the “suboptimal” 2025 national budget and vowed to address funding gaps in critical sectors like education, health, and tourism.
Speaking in Leyte, he said the government would tap savings and restore budget cuts, including the Department of Tourism’s P400-million branding fund and foreign-assisted projects of the DPWH.
Marcos highlighted the need for substantial allocations to the Department of Education (DepEd), which faced a budget shortfall that jeopardized teacher hiring, school construction, and digital learning tools.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman mentioned utilizing unprogrammed appropriations for projects once triggers are met.
The President also supported TESDA’s efforts to secure funding for its unfunded programs to bolster skills development and job creation.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 18, 2025
