The House of Representatives approved the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCO) proposed 2025 budget of ₱2.281 billion on Friday without any questions. This budget is 24.37% lower than the PCO’s 2024 budget of ₱3.016 billion.
The largest portion of the budget, ₱713.3 million, will go to the PCO-Proper, followed by ₱492.3 million for the Bureau of Broadcast Services and ₱439.6 million for the Philippine Information Agency. The proposed budget excludes automatic appropriations like Retirement and Life Insurance Premiums (RLIP).
APEC party-list Representative Sergio Dagooc, who moved to end the budget deliberation, expressed his belief that the PCO deserved a larger allocation. AKO BICOL party-list Representative Raul Bongalon, the budget sponsor for the PCO, emphasized the office’s critical role as the government’s communications arm.
PCO acting secretary Cesar Chavez thanked the House for the quick approval, calling it a “vote of confidence” in the office’s mission. He added that the approval motivates the PCO to deliver on its promised outcomes.
Major PCO projects for 2025 include Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas, Usapang Agrikultura, the National Information Summit, and the Government Communications Academy, among others. The PCO is also preparing for the 2026 ASEAN Summit, which the Philippines will host.