MANILA, Feb 1: Philippine President Fidel Ramos has or-' -ed all government agencies i reduce their expenditures this year by at least 25 per cent to avoid a budget deficit prompted by the currency crisis, says AP.

Specifically. Ramos ordered government agencies to defer expansion plans and hiring. But the order, made Monday, does not cover automatic appropriations for personnel or interest payments on debts.

Ramos said his order for a cut id expenditures includes state universities and colleges whose funding comes from the national budget.

The Philippine leader ordered government agencies to suspend new infrastructure projects, acquisition of new vehicles. foreign travel, attendance at overseas conferences, train-ing and workshops, celebration of cultural and social events, advertisements in media, additional employee benefits, and donations.

Ramos said economic difficulties caused by the peso's steep depreciation require "continued prudence in government fiscal management to maintain economic stability and sustain the country's growth momentum.”

The government hopes to post a budget surplus of at least 1 billion pesos (24 million dollars) this year.

It has achieved budget surpluses in the past three years of 1.564 billion pesos (38 million dollars) in 1997, 6.26 billion pesos (153 million dollars) in 1996, and 11.07 billion pesos (268 million dollars) in 1995.