PCO seeks P1.1B budget hike for retirement benefits, rehabilitation

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has requested an additional P1.109 billion in its 2026 budget for rehabilitation and retirement benefits.

The hike is on top of the P2.8 billion budget allocation of the agency under the 2026 National Expenditure Program.

“The proposed budget is designed to strengthen the government’s communication capacity at a time when clear and consistent, and transparent messaging is critical to sustaining public trust and encouraging active citizen participation,” said PCO acting Secretary Dave Gomez during the Senate finance committee hearing Friday.

“It is the lowest allocation among all department-level entities of government, yet despite this very modest share, the expectations placed upon the PCO are broad and significant—to inform, to engage and explain the government’s vital communication link between the people,” he added.

Of the P1.109 billion proposed amendment, P428 million would be used to fund retirement benefits for 167 employees of IBC-13 corporation.

Building retrofitting and temporary office lease for the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) would consume P360 million of the additional budget proposal, while the remaining P320 million would be used for rehabilitation and modernization of facilities used by the People’s Television Network Inc.

“This stark imbalance between the magnitude of our mandate and the limited resources at our disposal underscores the extraordinary efficiency, innovation, and creativity required of the PCO to carry out its mission effectively. It also highlights how every peso entrusted to us will translate into a stronger connection between government and citizen, anchored on trust, transparency and inclusivity,” Gomez added.

The Senate panel had approved the retirement allocation, pending the submission of additional requirements.

The proposed P2.8 billion budget of PCO will go to the following:

•     Presidential Communications Office-Proper – P972.020 million
•     PIA Development Communication Program – P527.486 million
•     BBS Public Radio Broadcasting Program – P512.535 million 
•    RTVM Presidential Documentation and Broadcast Management Program – P254.215        million
•     NIB Government News Information and Media Services Program – 163.151 million
•     BCS Government Communications Program – P99.548 million
•     NPO National Printing Program – P20.993 million
•     Budgetary Support to Government Corporations (IBC, PTNI, APO Production Unit) – P258,764,000

—LDF, GMA Integrated News