The proposed budget for 2025 will be highly responsive to the most urgent concerns of Filipinos, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

During the Post-SONA Discussions in Pasay City on Tuesday, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said next year’s proposed budget of PhP6.352 trillion will adhere to the Philippine Development Plan and the 8-point Socioeconomic Agenda.

Pangandaman said the proposed 2025 budget “will remain highly responsive to the most urgent, national concerns of our Filipino people, and that is to address inflation, to provide job to everyone, reduce poverty and combat graft and corruption.”

Pangandaman further noted that the proposed national budget for next year is guided by the theme: Agenda for Prosperity, Fulfilling the Needs and Aspirations of the Filipino people.

“Our goal as always is to uplift the lives of the Filipino people,” she said.

In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the “proposed government budget for this year was crafted with utmost care, diligence, and meticulous attention.”

“We look to the cooperation of our colleagues in the Legislature, not only that our proposed National Budget be approved in your usual timely manner, but it be adhered to as closely as possible,” he said.

The Chief Executive earlier this month approved the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Under the program, the agencies getting the lion’s share of government appropriations include education (DepEd, SUCs, CHED, TESDA), public works (DPWH), health (includes PhilHealth), interior and local government (DILG), and defense (DND).

Also, top priorities are social welfare, (DSWD), agriculture (DA) and attached corporations; Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR); Department of Transportation (DOTr), the judiciary and justice. PND