Manila: Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III praised the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Wednesday for its effective budget utilization and successful program implementation. This commendation came during the Senate plenary discussions over the PCO's proposed budget for 2025, where Pimentel acknowledged the distribution of retirement benefits to 146 retirees and employees from 2002 to early 2024, as well as 224 early retirees of the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC). According to Philippines News Agency, Senator Loren Legarda, advocating for the PCO's budget, revealed that the IBC had disbursed PHP425.762 million, leaving PHP74.237 million for the remaining retirees this year. Pimentel expressed his satisfaction with the efficient use of the funds, stating, "In short, mission accomplished. Congratulations to IBC. You asked for funding, you were given the fund, and now we solved the problem of the 400 beneficiaries plus their families." As the primary agency for implementing Execu tive Order 2 series of 2016 and Memorandum Order 10 series of 2016 concerning the Freedom of Information (FOI) Program, the PCO was questioned by Pimentel about the program's public benefits. Legarda responded that there had been 239,741 e-FOI requests and 151,991 standard FOI filings. She highlighted that the academic sector made the most requests and that top-requested agencies included the Department of Health and the Philippine Statistics Authority. Legarda emphasized that the program is indeed being utilized by the public, stating, "The figures show that this is being used by the public. They are availing of this mechanism." The senators suggested the PCO implement a feedback mechanism for the program. The PCO's proposed budget for the next year, approved by the Senate, totals PHP2.026 billion. This budget allocates PHP694.971 million to the PCO Proper, PHP77.071 million to the Bureau of Communications Services, PHP28.848 million to the National Printing Office, PHP138.305 million to the News and Infor mation Bureau, PHP418.263 million to the Philippine Information Agency, PHP466.203 million to the Presidential Broadcast Service/Bureau of Broadcast Services, and PHP251.155 million to the Presidential Broadcast Staff. Additionally, the IBC will receive a supplemental budget of PHP1.149 billion, while the People's Television Network is allocated PHP215.257 million. Pimentel expressed his approval of these budgetary allocations, noting, "The budgetary levels, I find them to be reasonable. Congratulations to the PCO family. We wish you all the best for next year and thank you to our chairwoman."