The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) appealed before the Senate panel on trade, commerce, and entrepreneurship for a boost in its budget for 2026.
At a briefing in the Senate on Thursday, DTI Assistant Secretary Kristian Ablan asked Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who was presiding over the meeting at that time, to help the agency achieve an increase in its funding for next year.
‘May we solicit the assistance of the chair to help us have a higher budget for 2026? The DTI’s budget is one of the lowest budgets for a department-level office. For DTI Osec, our budget is just P6.9 billion together with our attached agencies, that goes to less than P10 billion. Together with our attached Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), that’s just up to P12 billion,’ said Ablan.
According to him, the DTI initially requested a budget of ‘less than P20 billion,’ but was only given ‘about half’ of the amount.
‘So we would seek the assistance of the good chairman to help us. If funds will be realigned, may we get a little boost for some of our programs, particularly on our trade fairs as well as enforcing our fair trade laws?’ said Ablan.
Marcoleta, for his part, said the Development Budget Coordination Committee might have thought that the DTI’s GOCCs are earning well, but Ablan explained that the proceeds of the GOCCs do not revert to DTI.
‘Unfortunately, a big chunk goes to the national treasury,’ said Ablan.