DBM moves budget request deadline 2 weeks earlier

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has moved up the deadline for agencies to seek additional budget authorities by nearly two weeks as it races to assess remaining funding requests, with nearly all of the 2026 national budget already released.

Under Circular Letter No. 2026-13, the DBM said government agencies have until Nov. 3 to submit requests for additional obligational and disbursement authorities. The agency moved up the deadline from the original schedule of November 16.

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The earlier cutoff coincides with government agencies’ final months of the 2026 budget cycle, limiting their time to use available funds.

According to the DBM, the new deadline will allow agencies to maximize the use of available funds amid the limited validity period for release.

At the same time, the DBM reported that as of October 15, agencies received 97.1 percent of the P6.793-trillion 2026 expenditure program, which amounts to P6.596 trillion in funding released.

“The earlier submission deadline is intended for the timely assessment and prioritization of budgetary requests,” the DBM said.

“Accordingly, requests for additional obligational and disbursement authorities received by the DBM beyond the prescribed cutoff date shall be deferred for consideration in FY 2027,” it added.

However, the DBM said requests for mandatory or urgent purposes are exempt from the deadline.

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Meanwhile, this includes additional personnel service requirements like retirement and life insurance contributions, as well as terminal leave benefits for national government personnel devolved to LGUs.

Requests for non-cash availment authorities for loan disbursements and those due to urgent circumstances are exempt.

The circular pertains to departments, state universities, national offices, government corporations, budget officers, and accounting heads in budget-supported LGUs. /pai