Office of the President seeks lower travel budget

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the President (OP) has a lower travel allocation in the proposed 2025 budget as President Marcos is expected to have fewer trips next year, the budget department said yesterday.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Marcos’ office is seeking a P1.054-billion travel budget in next year’s budget, lower by eight percent than the P1.148 billion outlay in 2024.

“If we check their (OP) proposal, maybe they reduced their travels, both local and foreign,” Pangandaman said at a press briefing in Malacañang.

The Department of Budget and Management chief expressed confidence that the Marcos administration would achieve its goal of luring investments despite the lower travel budget.

“We (economic team) still continue to go out and market the Philippines as an investment destination. That will continue,” Pangandaman said.

She cited the need to follow up on the memoranda of understanding and business agreements signed during Marcos’ overseas trips to ensure these would translate into actual investments.

Marcos has had 28 foreign trips since becoming president in 2022. He has so far undertaken nine overseas trips this year, the latest being his visit to Singapore to speak before the Shangri-La Dialogue.

The President’s critics accuse him of traveling too much but officials claim his overseas engagements allow him to attract more investments.

The trade department recently reported that about $19 billion worth of investments – covering 65 projects that were pledged during Marcos’ foreign trips – have been actualized or have started implementation as of June.