Prudent and judicious government spending

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. The holiday season is upon us. But as we celebrate, I hope we do not forget our kababayans who continue to face hardships due to the spate of calamities that have hit our nation, the latest, Super Typhoon "Uwan.

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Last week, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) issued Proclamation No. 1077, declaring a State of National Calamity. He also called upon all of us to be mindful and empathic to the struggles of our fellow Filipinos, enjoining government agencies to keep holiday festivities simple and meaningful.

On our part at the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), consistent with our mandate of ensuring and promoting efficient and responsible use of government funds, we also reminded all public servants to be prudent, sensitive, and responsible in using public funds this coming holiday season through Circular Letter No. 2025-11.

Instead of holding grand celebrations, I believe that we in government should hold simple, inclusive, and heartfelt initiatives that reflect the values of compassion, unity, and integrity in public service.

For me, the best way to celebrate is by giving back. There are alternative activities that reflect the spirit of our Bagong Pilipinas -such as community outreach, volunteer work, or gift-giving programs for underprivileged and calamity-affected sectors.

And, as we emphasized prudence in spending during the holidays, the President underscored the need to sustain the momentum of our economic growth by spending wisely during the fourth quarter. Our government has about ₱1.307 trillion to spend until yearend. Following PBBM's directive to ensure that government spending directly benefits our people, we intend to use this primarily for social services.