Timely and comprehensive budget release: A proactive strategy

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. I hope everyone had a restful and peaceful long holiday, ready to face new challenges and opportunities.

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For us in the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), we stand firm in our commitment to fiscal efficiency, transparency, and the timely delivery of public services for the people.

As President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) emphasized during the signing of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) on Dec. 30, 2024, “This budget reflects our collective commitment to transforming economic gains into meaningful outcomes for every Filipino.”

Hence, for the government to start strong, I am glad to note that the DBM was able to release P5.1 trillion or about 80.7 percent of the P6.326 trillion fiscal year (FY) 2025 national budget to different government agencies as of end-March.

You see, this timely release is a proactive strategy to maximize the capacity of government agencies to serve. Once government agencies receive their allocated funds, they are empowered to immediately commence programs, activities, and projects (PAPs), thereby delivering services to the people. Any delay in its release would mean depriving the people of services they deserve.

Further, government spending stimulates economic growth. As the President highlighted during the 2025 GAA signing, “Our national budget is designed not just to address our present needs, but to fuel economic growth and uplift the lives of future generations.” The immediate release of funds for high-impact PAPs, such as railways, farm-to-market roads, social protection programs, healthcare, school buildings, and our digital transformation reforms, allows for smoother operations or earlier project completion.