Manila: The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Friday announced the Senate's approval of its proposed PHP308.2-billion budget for 2026. This decision was reached during the plenary debates held on Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla expressed gratitude towards the Senate for their commitment to enhancing public safety and local governance. The budget proposal was sponsored by Sen. JV Ejercito, vice chairperson of Subcommittee F of the Senate Committee on Finance, who reiterated the chamber's dedication to supporting both uniformed and civilian personnel of the DILG.
The Senate Committee on Finance recommended an increase of nearly 8 percent from the original PHP285.4-billion National Expenditure Program (NEP) proposal, resulting in the PHP308.2 billion allocation. The additional funding is designated to support the department's 283,000 uniformed personnel, improve the operational capabilities of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and strengthen the programs and services of the department's attached agencies.
Included in the budget are provisions for 65 new fire stations and the procurement of 65 additional fire trucks for the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), which aims to close the remaining gap in firefighting capabilities across Local Government Units (LGUs) nationwide.
The Senate's version of the 2026 DILG budget allocates the largest share to the PNP with PHP225.8 billion, followed by the BFP with PHP36.2 billion, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) with PHP31.3 billion. Other allocations include the DILG Office of the Secretary, National Police Commission, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Philippine Public Safety College, Local Government Academy, Early Childhood Care and Development Center, National Youth Commission, and the Philippine Commission on Women.
Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan also extended his gratitude to Senators Raffy Tulfo and JV Ejercito for recognizing the commission's reforms and achievements during the budget deliberations. He noted that with the support of the DILG, the Napolcom has significantly reduced its backlog from around 4,000 cases to about 200 pending cases. The commission aims to clear its 25-year backlog by December 2025.
