Manila, Jan. 5 -- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has refuted claims that salary hikes and pensions for teachers, government workers, and uniformed personnel will be delayed under the 2026 national budget, calling these inaccurate and misleading.

In a statement on Monday, the DBM said reports of a supposed PHP24-billion "reduction" on the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) were inaccurate, stressing that the amount was not removed or canceled but merely realigned.

"First, the reported PHP24 billion 'reduction' was not removed or canceled. This amount is intended for the increase in subsistence allowance of uniformed personnel and was simply transferred from the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) to the ...