Yamsuan vows to push for higher allocation for PCO, PTV-4 in 2027 budget

Parañaque 2nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan has committed to push for the increase in the allocation of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), including its primary broadcasting arm, the People’s Television Network Inc. (PTV-4), in the proposed national budget for 2027.

Yamsuan joined Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Adiong, a vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, in seeking a higher budget for the PCO and its attached agencies, which received a measly 0.03 percent share of Malacañang’s proposed expenditure program of P7.2 trillion for 2027.

Both lawmakers are members of the Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee (BARSc) of the House of Representatives.

“In this age of social media, where news and information reach the people in seconds across various online platforms, the government needs to adjust. It should take this opportunity provided by social media by arming the PCO and its attached agencies with enough resources to do its job of effectively connecting the government to the public,” said Yamsuan during the hearing of the appropriations committee on the PCO’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 held Thursday (Aug. 27, 2026).

“Communication is key. Tulad nga nang sinabi ng mga kapwa ko mambabatas dito, maraming magagandang programa ang gobyerno pero hindi alam ng karamihan ng ating mga kababayan kung ano ang mga ito at kung paano sila makikinabang dito (Like what our fellow lawmakers said here, the government has many good programs, but majority of our countrymen are not aware of these and how they can benefit from them),” added Yamsuan, a vice chairperson of the House Committee on Public Information.

PCO Secretary Dave Gomez said the proposed allocation for 2027 of P2.62 billion for its office and its attached agencies under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) is 6.68 percent lower than its 2026 proposed NEP budget of P2.81 billion.

Gomez said the proposed allocation for PCO itself of P784.54 million under the 2027 NEP is 19.3 percent lower than its original proposal to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) of P1.26 billion.

PTV-4, which is the government’s flagship broadcasting station, was given a budget of only P138.34 million under the 2027 NEP, while another PCO-attached agency, IBC-13, received zero allocation because it is being considered for privatization, Gomez said.

Mandaluyong City Rep. Alexandria Gonzales, who presided over the hearing, said Speaker Faustino Dy has already been informed about the PCO’s concerns over the cuts in its budget for the next fiscal year.

Yamsuan, who is also a former key official in the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) during the Estrada administration, lamented that PTV-4 was allocated with only P138.34 million, which is a pittance compared to its original budget proposal of P1.7 billion.

Newly appointed PTV-4 General Manager Lino Cayetano said that it would be a “disservice to the Filipino people” if such a small allocation is given to PTV-4.

Cayetano, who appealed to lawmakers to restore PTV’s original budget proposal, agreed with Yamsuan that “social media is the new battleground” in terms of connecting with the public.

“But contrary to the common perception, social media is not free. Distribution is cheaper compared to installing TV towers and antennas, but production is more expensive because you have to generate content on a regular basis,” Cayetano noted.

“This is not PR (public relations) for the executive branch. This is for the Filipino people so that they can understand the programs of the government and how they can benefit from them,” Cayetano added.

Yamsuan vowed to work not only for the restoration, but also for an increase in the entire PCO allocation for 2027.

“I concur with my colleague, Representative Adiong, on his steadfast commitment to restore the PCO’s budget. Not only that, as a member of the BARSc, I will also work for the increase of the PCO’s budget,” Yamsuan said.

Gomez said he will provide the committee with the PCO’s original budget proposal, including the items that were cut and the justifications on why these need to be restored.