The Fiscal Incentives Review Board (FIRB), which is chaired by Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto, has recently granted PHP 20.9 billion worth of tax subsidy applications of government institutions to make public services more accessible and efficient for the Filipino people.

A tax subsidy means that the national government shoulders the taxes and duties that public institutions would otherwise have to pay, in order for them to focus their resources on delivering better and more efficient public services to the people.

“This move is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s commitment to delivering more responsive public services. Ang mga tax subsidy na ito ay makakatulong para mas mapabilis at mas mapalawak ang serbisyo ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno para sa taumbayan,” the Finance Chief said.

The FIRB is authorized by law to approve tax subsidy applications of government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), government instrumentalities, government commissaries, and state universities and colleges (SUCs) to support public institutions in fulfilling their missions without being burdened by tax obligations.

As of May 21, 2025, the FIRB, through its Technical Committee (TC), has approved 10 applications with a total tax subsidy of PHP 20.9 billion for the years 2024 and 2025.

All agencies whose applications were approved have already exhibited a 100% utilization rate on their tax subsidies based on the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO).

For 2024, tax subsidies were granted to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) worth PHP 7.5 billion; the National Power Corporation (NPC) [PHP 6.0 billion]; the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) [PHP 4.5 billion]; and the National Transmission Commission (TransCo) [PHP 2.0 billion].

Also included were the Armed Forces of the Philippines Commissary and Exchange Service (AFPCES) [PHP 305 million]; the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) [PHP 223 million]; and the UP National Institute of Physics [PHP 6.6 million].

For 2025, tax subsidies were granted to the BTR [PHP 223.2 million] and the AFPCES [PHP 58.5 million].