MANILA -- The House of Representatives Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) recommended on Thursday additional budget allocations for several government agencies.
These includes the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), and the People’s Television Network (PTV-4) during deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget.
For the DENR, lawmakers approved a recommended P209.906 million in additional funding.
The proposed increase includes P59.906 million for land management governance.
Lawmakers also approved an additional P100 million to cover government fees for approximately 40,000 land patents, which have reportedly been left unclaimed by owners due to poverty.
Another P50 million was approved for the initial funding of a program for structures in Region 10.
The panel then proceeded to the budget proposals under the Presidential Communications Office.
Parañaque Second District Representative Brian Yamsuan said he was proposing additional funding for several agencies under the PCO, emphasizing the importance of public information.
“I believe, Mr. Chair, that information is not just knowledge, it is a foundation of accountability, and an informed public is better equipped to ask questions, challenge inconsistencies, and demand responsible action if we are well informed,” Yamsuan said.
The panel approved an additional P25 million for the PCO proper to establish and operationalize the Bagong Pilipinas Studios.
It also approved P35.985 million for the subsidies, salaries, and compensation of IBC-13 employees, based on the government-approved organizational structure and staffing pattern.
For the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), lawmakers approved an additional P12 million for the rental of a temporary office and operational space while its building undergoes retrofitting and renovation.
Yamsuan said the PIA building currently has a problem with bats.
“During the budget deliberations, Mr. Chair, which I was present, the PIA specified that the building structure is occupied by so many bats already,” he said.
“So, I think that they need to rent first so that we can get it fixed so that to provide a good working environment for our employees of the PIA,” he added.
The panel also approved a P600-million increase in the budget of the People’s Television Network Inc. (PTV-4).
The additional funding is intended to restore and strengthen the network’s capacity as a public service media organization, improve its content and nationwide reach, develop marketable programming, expand its audience, and strengthen its revenue-generating capacity.
Yamsuan said PTV-4 should be able to compete with established government broadcasters internationally.
He said the additional funds would be used for social media content, digital content creation, and programs aimed at informing Filipinos about government programs and projects.
“To be able to touch the Filipino viewership, need to improve on the content so that when we inform the public about government programs and projects, and to be consistent with all the truest form of information in terms of providing our kababayans, PTV-4 will be at the helm of informing our public,” Yamsuan said.
The P600-million increase was approved without objection.
“It’s about time that our government stations be upgraded,” the presiding officer said following the approval.