DBM eyes automatic release of salary funds for government workers

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 06, 2026

Photo Courtesy: DBM Website

PHILIPPINES – Government employees who are promoted or have their positions reclassified may soon receive salary adjustments faster, as the Department of Budget and Management moves to automate the release of funds for personnel services deficiencies.

Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said the DBM is drafting a policy that would allow it to identify salary funding gaps through updated agency plantilla records and release the needed funds even without a separate request.

The policy is targeted for signing by the end of September, with live testing across government agencies set for the fourth quarter of 2026.

Under the current system, agencies must notify the DBM of promotions or position reclassifications before additional salary funding can be released. Under the proposed mechanism, agencies would only need to keep their plantilla master lists updated.

The reform could particularly benefit public school personnel covered by DepEd’s Expanded Career Progression System. The DBM recently approved ₱8.68 billion in salary differentials for 93,344 reclassified public school positions for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

Another ₱12.09 billion has been earmarked in the proposed 2027 national budget for the continued implementation of the career progression system.

The mechanism will initially be tested in the fourth quarter before the DBM decides whether to institutionalize the system across national government agencies.