Malacañang assured the public that the country’s national debt, now close to P17 trillion as of end-March 2025, remains within a sustainable level despite recent increases.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government’s borrowing under the Marcos administration was channeled primarily into “growth enhancing investments” such as infrastructure, education, agriculture, health, and social services.

“We can see what help the President and the government have extended to our farmers, our fishermen; even the increase in assistance and aid to our fellow Filipinos – you can see that,” Castro said in Filipino.

Castro cited the Department of Finance (DOF), saying the debt level is sustainable and still below the international threshold of 70 percent debt-to-GDP (gross domestic product) ratio.

Data from the Bureau of the Treasury showed the Philippines’ running sovereign debt stock has ballooned further to a record-high of nearly P16.92 trillion as of end-May 2025 amid continued capital raising efforts by the government to back its budgetary requirements.

This is up 0.99 percent from the end-April level of P16.75 trillion. 

PNA PHOTO