President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday admitted the 2024 national budget is “suboptimal” even as he assured the public his administration is taking steps to address funding gaps in critical sectors.
Speaking to reporters, President Marcos said efforts are underway to reallocate resources and restore funding to essential programs that were cut or reduced in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
“Perhaps the budget, as was passed, you could describe it as suboptimal. But we are remedying that situation,” the President said.
“What we are doing is looking for savings to bring back those funds that have been lost in the NEP,” he added.
He identified education, health, and housing as among the areas most affected by budget adjustments.
He said his administration is working to reallocate savings to support programs in these sectors, ensuring that services to the public remain uninterrupted.
“We’re prioritizing areas that need urgent attention, like education and health, and addressing gaps in housing initiatives,” he said.
“This is part of our long-term strategy. We’re focusing on efficiency and resource management to ensure that the programs we promised will still be delivered,” he added.
The President underscored the need for increased funding for the Department of Education to address critical challenges, including the country’s teacher shortage and infrastructure needs.
Speaking during a budget review with DepEd officials, Mr. Marcos underscored the importance of prioritizing education despite the funding gaps.
“We have to be able to show that that’s [education] the priority,” he said.
The DepEd’s proposed budget for 2025 was slashed from its initial request of P748 billion to P737 billion by the 19th Congress.
The cuts impact key areas, including the creation of new school personnel positions, the Basic Education Facilities Fund (BEFF), and the DepEd Computerization Program (DCP).
During the meeting, President Marcos also addressed funding issues faced by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
While TESDA’s budget increased to P20.73 billion in the 2025 GAA from the proposed P18.50 billion, critical initiatives such as the creation of an Enterprise-based Training Office and the establishment of a new regional office for the Negros Island Region remained unfunded.
The President supported TESDA’s plan to explore alternative financing options for these programs to ensure their implementation.