Gov’t agencies told to rechannel idle funds

Government agencies have been directed to realign unused allocations from the 2025 national budget to help bankroll the administration’s energy emergency programs following instructions from Malacañang to review agency spending and identify available funds.

Budget Secretary Rolando Toledo issued National Budget Circular 603 ordering all departments, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities, including state universities and colleges as well as government-owned and controlled corporations, to tap unobligated allotments and continuing appropriations for priority energy-related interventions.

Under the circular, unobligated funds from the 2025 General Appropriations Act that are no longer expected to be utilized may be redirected, subject to existing rules and compliance requirements.

“(U)nobligated allotments under the FY 2025 GAA (General Appropriations Act) that will no longer be used may be tapped as additional funding source subject to compliance,” Toledo said.

The budget chief added that continuing appropriations from previous fiscal years that remain valid for obligation may also be used to augment funding requirements.

“The measure (i)s intended to maximize the use of existing resources and promote fiscal discipline while allowing the government to respond swiftly to the energy emergency,” he noted.

Aside from fund realignments, government agencies were also instructed to strengthen cost-saving measures, including postponing nonessential expenditures, rationalizing maintenance and operating expenses, and prioritizing programs with high impact.

Toledo emphasized, however, that the reallocation of funds should not compromise the delivery of essential public services or delay the implementation of critical government projects. TRACY CABRERA