President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the proposed P6.793 trillion national budget for 2026, the Palace said yesterday, noting that the spending plan prioritizes both economic growth and improving the quality of life of Filipinos.
In a Cabinet meeting held Tuesday morning in Malacañang, President Marcos underscored that the proposed budget is not only designed to drive economic growth, but to uplift the lives of current and future generations of Filipinos.
Education remains a top priority in the budget, alongside programs aimed at addressing poverty, enhancing healthcare, and creating sustainable jobs, the Palace said.
Mr. Marcos said each sector must contribute toward ensuring that “no Filipino is left behind.”
The proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program is 7.4 percent larger than the current budget of P6.326 trillion and is equivalent to 22 percent of the country’s gross domestic product, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said.
“The President himself sat down with the different agencies to ensure that all our priorities are aligned toward our common goal of achieving our vision of a Bagong Pilipinas,” Pangandaman said.
She said the NEP was anchored on the theme “Agenda for Prosperity: Nurturing Future-Ready Generations to Achieve the Full Potential of the Nation.”
By expenditure class, the largest allocation will go to Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) at P2.639 trillion, followed by Personnel Services (P1.908 trillion), Capital Outlays (P1.296 trillion), and Financial Expenses (P950 billion).
National Government Agencies will receive P4.305 trillion, or 63.4 percent of the total budget. Local government units are set to get P1.350 trillion, while Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations will receive P188.3 billion in subsidies and equity support.
The NEP will be submitted by the President to Congress within 30 days after the opening of the regular session.
