President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has set stricter requirements for the disbursement of the P6.793-trillion national budget, particularly for new programs and congressional adjustments, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said Friday.
The DBM said Marcos made clear that no budget allocations will be released automatically and that all spending must comply with existing laws, fiscal rules, and government procedures.
The President’s directive requires that additional appropriations and new items approved by Congress be released only after careful review of cash availability, compliance with budget rules, and alignment with government priorities.
Certain provisions, including the Quick Response Fund, retirement benefits, capacity development programs, and foreign service posts, are now subject to conditional release pending full satisfaction of legal, procedural, and fiscal requirements.
Marcos stressed that passing the budget is only the first step, with proper execution and accountability being the greater challenge in ensuring funds are used effectively.
The DBM said agencies affected by new or increased allocations will be formally informed and required to submit updated performance targets to ensure that additional funding translates into tangible results.
The policy reinforces the constitutional principle that while Congress approves the budget, the executive branch is responsible for ensuring lawful, disciplined, and accountable implementation of government spending.
