Marcos calls for DSWD programs to be included in 2026 programmed budget
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said he wants to remove programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) out of the unprogrammed appropriations in 2026.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) in a statement, Marcos made the pronouncement during a meeting with the DSWD at the Malacañan Palace.
“DSWD programs should no longer [be] in the unprogrammed appropriation next year,” Marcos was quoted by the PCO as saying.
“Dapat nandyan na (programmed) para mabilis mapakinabangan (it should be included in the programmed funds so it can easily be used),” he added.
The PCO said the meeting between the President and the DSWD was held to discuss the results of agency budget review under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) vis-à-vis the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
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Article continues after this advertisementThe DSWD budget was reduced by P10.85 billion, or 4.79 percent from P226.67 billion in the 2025 NEP to P215.82 billion in the 2025 GAA.
Meanwhile, the DSWD is requesting P41.8 billion as additional funding from the Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA) to cover the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) grants for the period August to December 2025.