DOST chief Solidum is highest paid Cabinet official in 2025

MANILA, Philippines – Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. is still the highest-paid Marcos Cabinet official, according to the Commission on Audit’s (COA) 2025 Report on Salaries and Allowances (ROSA) released on Wednesday, May 6.

Based on the COA report, Solidum received a total pay of P6.66 million in 2025 — P281,000 higher than in 2024 — making him the top-paid Marcos Cabinet official for a second consecutive year.

Solidum got his compensation from his post as DOST chief: P3.52 million in basic pay; P1.62 million in allowances; P1.09 million in bonuses, incentives, and benefits; and P264,000 in discretionary expenses.

As DOST chief, he sits in the governing bodies of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions, the Philippine Coconut Authority, the Philippine Science High School System, and the National Dairy Industry but does not receive pay for these duties.

The second highest paid Cabinet official is former justice secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, who was appointed Ombudsman in October 2025. As justice chief, he received P5.976 million in 2025, P701,000 higher than his full year’s pay in 2024.

Here is the full list of Cabinet officials and their compensation in 2025.

1. Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. – P6.66 million 2. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla  – P5.976 million 3. Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma – P5.966 million 4. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian – P5.494 million 5. TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez – P5.378 million 6. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel P5.202 million 7. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa – P5.163 million 8. Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III – P5.147 million 9. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. – P4.98 million 10. National Security Adviser Eduardo Año – P4.971 million 11. Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr. – P4.97 million 12. Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation Lorenzo Gadon – P4.953 million 13. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco – P4.918 million 14. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin – P4.917 million 15. Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Leo Magno – P4.917 million 16. Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan – P4.882 million 17. Trade Secretary Ma. Cristine Aldeguer-Roque – P4.857 million 18. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac – P4.836 million 19. Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Acuzar – P4.834 million 20. Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara – P4.787 million 21. Finance Secretary Ralph Recto – P4.772 million 22. National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Lope Santos – P4.756 million 23. National Commission on Muslim Filipinos Secretary Sabuddin Abdurahim – P4.75 million 24. Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Carlito Galvez Jr. – P4.713 million 25. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla – P4.672 million 26. Higher Education Secretary Shirley Agrupis – P4.584 million 27. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin – P4.462 million 28. Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile – P4.338 million 29. Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman – P4.278 million 30. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro – P4.02 million 31. Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda – P3.85 million 32. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon – P3.709 million 33. Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan – P3.19 million 34. Presidential Communication Secretary Dave Gomez – P2.218 million 35. Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga – P2.139 million

The compensation received by some Cabinet secretaries were lower as they either resigned or were appointed during the year. Enrile died in November.

In May 2025, Marcos accepted the courtesy resignations of Yulo-Loyzaga, Acuzar, and then-foreign secretary Enrique Manalo, who was later appointed as Philippine permanent representative to the United Nations. Lazaro replaced him at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Gomez was appointed as Marcos’ communications chief in July 2025.

Bonoan resigned in late August, amid controversies over flood control projects, and was replaced by Dizon.

Bersamin and Pangandaman resigned in November 2025 “out of delicadeza after their departments were mentioned in allegations related to the flood control anomaly currently under investigation,” Malacañang said at the time. 

Recto replaced Bersamin, while Frederick Go took over the Department of Finance. – Rappler.com