Marcos' proposed 2026 travel budget tops ₱1 billion despite cut from previous year
According to the 2026 National Expenditure Program, the Office of the President (OP) is seeking ₱1.018 billion for local and foreign missions and state visits—21 percent lower than the ₱1.2 billion allocated in 2025.
The allocation is expected to pass as part of the 2026 General Appropriations Act, with lawmakers traditionally granting the OP's budget requests under parliamentary courtesy.
Asked about the amount, Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the President regularly visits communities to monitor the situation during calamities and assess security conditions.
'You can also see the President's frequent travels as he encourages other countries to invest in our country,' Castro added.
If enacted, Marcos' budget for local and foreign travel from 2023 to 2026 will total ₱4.6 billion—surpassing the ₱4 billion spent during former President Rodrigo Duterte's six-year term from 2017 to 2022.
Marcos' most recent foreign trip was a state visit to India from Aug. 4 to 8, his 36th overseas trip since assuming office in 2022.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Filipino Times
12 hours ago
- Filipino Times
Pag-IBIG Fund offers special 3% rate for initial 10 years to first 30,000 expanded 4PH borrowers
Pag-IBIG Fund will grant its special 3% housing loan rate for the first 10 years of the loan term, double the standard five years for the subsidized rate, to the first 30,000 eligible borrowers under its housing loan for the Expanded Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (Expanded 4PH) Program. The offer is part of Pag-IBIG Fund's response to the call of Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling to further make home financing affordable under the Expanded 4PH. The extended fixed rate is expected to significantly reduce monthly payments for early borrowers and help accelerate the administration's housing agenda under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 'In line with the directive of President Marcos, we have enhanced the Expanded 4PH Program to be more responsive to the needs of Filipino workers. Aside from covering both house and lot and condominium units that members can purchase at a special rate for the first five years of the loan term, we are extending the effective period of the subsidized rate to 10 years for the first 30,000 borrowers. This means they will enjoy the 3% rate, already much lower than prevailing market rates, for a full decade, making homeownership even more affordable,' said Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, head of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development and chair of the Pag-IBIG Fund Board of Trustees. Aliling said doubling the fixed rate period allows early borrowers to enjoy lower monthly payments and stable amortizations for longer, keeping housing affordable under the Expanded 4PH Program. Ordinarily, the 3% rate applies only during the first five years of the loan term. First-time homebuyers, particularly those earning less than 47,856 pesos per month in the National Capital Region and less than 34,686 pesos outside NCR, may qualify for the subsidized 3% rate. All overseas Filipino workers, regardless of income, also qualify. Under this limited offer, early borrowers will enjoy the rate for 10 years, enabling them to save more and enjoy predictable, affordable amortizations for longer. The loan may be used to purchase socialized house and lot and condominium units under accredited Expanded 4PH projects, priced up to 850,000 pesos and 1.8 million pesos, respectively. The program offers up to 100,000 pesos in additional financing for home improvements, such as utility connections and home fixtures, and provides a 100 percent loan-to-value ratio, meaning no cash equity is required. Pag-IBIG Fund Chief Executive Officer Marilene C. Acosta emphasized the deeper impact of the 10-year fixed rate for members. 'As we carry out our mandate to uplift the lives of our members and support the Marcos administration's housing thrust, this program offers more than just homes, it offers hope. With significantly lower monthly payments for a longer period, more Filipino workers can now achieve their dream of owning a home,' Acosta said. 'For our members who are seeking to buy homes, now is the best time to apply for a Pag-IBIG Housing Loan under the Expanded 4PH Program. With our special 3% rate fixed for the initial 10 years for the first 30,000 borrowers, we are empowering more Filipino workers, private sector employees, government workers, uniformed personnel, OFWs, self-employed individuals, and especially those with modest incomes, to gain greater access to decent and affordable housing, helping them build better lives,' she added. To make the process easier, the agency has launched the Expanded 4PH Online Registration Facility, allowing prospective borrowers to register and select their preferred housing unit online at . The special offer is available only to the first 30,000 borrowers.
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Filipino Times
PH to open Migrant Workers Office in Nigeria to support OFWs across Africa
The Philippines plans to open a Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Abuja to provide greater protection and assistance to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Nigeria and 12 other West and Central African countries. The initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to safeguard the rights and welfare of Filipinos working abroad, officials said. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria Mersole Mellejor, and other DMW officials met with Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar and Labor Minister Muhammad Maigadi Dingyadi to discuss labor cooperation, protection measures, and potential job opportunities. Cacdac thanked Nigeria for hosting more than 6,000 OFWs and highlighted prospects for collaboration in business process outsourcing, migration support, and skilled labor deployment. Foreign Minister Tuggar recalled the contributions of Filipino teachers in Nigeria during the 1970s and cited opportunities for Filipino professionals in sectors such as electricity, solar energy, and emerging industries. Labor Minister Dingyadi expressed support for establishing the labor office and said Nigeria is ready to explore a bilateral labor agreement. Officials said Nigeria's growing infrastructure, construction, agribusiness, and services sectors present potential employment opportunities for skilled and semi-skilled Filipino workers. The planned Abuja MWO will act as a frontline office for OFWs in the region, enabling faster responses to labor concerns, providing legal and welfare aid, and improving coordination with host governments and employers.
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Filipino Times
Marcos' proposed 2026 travel budget tops ₱1 billion despite cut from previous year
The proposed budget for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s local and foreign trips in 2026 has decreased from the previous year but remains above ₱1 billion. According to the 2026 National Expenditure Program, the Office of the President (OP) is seeking ₱1.018 billion for local and foreign missions and state visits—21 percent lower than the ₱1.2 billion allocated in 2025. The allocation is expected to pass as part of the 2026 General Appropriations Act, with lawmakers traditionally granting the OP's budget requests under parliamentary courtesy. Asked about the amount, Palace press officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the President regularly visits communities to monitor the situation during calamities and assess security conditions. 'You can also see the President's frequent travels as he encourages other countries to invest in our country,' Castro added. If enacted, Marcos' budget for local and foreign travel from 2023 to 2026 will total ₱4.6 billion—surpassing the ₱4 billion spent during former President Rodrigo Duterte's six-year term from 2017 to 2022. Marcos' most recent foreign trip was a state visit to India from Aug. 4 to 8, his 36th overseas trip since assuming office in 2022.
