Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda said he sees nothing wrong with President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. having to personally watch over the 2026 national budget process as conveyed by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.
“I am not a member of the Appropriations Committee, but the President was a former senator and congressman. On that basis alone, our rules allow him as a former colleague to be present and be deferred to in most of our proceedings,” said Salceda.
“The President has plenty of insights that I’ve found very helpful,” he added. Salceda chairs the House committee on ways and means and serves as the chamber’s resident economist.
During the PPP (Public-Private Partnership) Act discussions, for example, Salceda said Marcos’ instructions were being relayed to him through Secretary Frederick Go while the bicameral conference committee was ongoing.
“It’s his (Marcos’) proposed budget after all. And we allow secretaries to be present in bicams for most bills. What more, the President himself,” Salceda said.
Pangandaman also said the President may even plan to sit in the bicameral conference committee to ensure outlay is aligned with government priorities.