Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary (DSWD) Rex Gatchalian met on Tuesday (January 14) with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr and other Cabinet officials to discuss the outcomes of the agency budget review in relation to the 2025 General Appropriations Act and the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

During the meeting, President Marcos said programs of the DSWD should be included in the programmed appropriation in 2026 to ensure swift implementation.

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), programmed appropriations are line items with definite or identified funding as of the time the budget is prepared.

Unprogrammed appropriations, on the other hand, are those which provide standby authority to incur additional agency obligations for priority programs or projects when revenue collection exceeds targets, and when additional grants or foreign funds are generated.

The meeting was also attended by other DSWD officials including Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera. (YADP)