Malacañang on Friday defended President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s stern warning to lawmakers against questionable amendments to the proposed 2026 national budget, reiterating the President’s desire for transparency and integrity in public spending.
In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro emphasized the painstaking process behind crafting the National Expenditure Program (NEP), which she said is done in close coordination between the President and Cabinet secretaries.
“The budget is not just made easily. It is worked hard for, studied, and stayed up late for by the entire cabinet together with the President,” Castro said.
“What the NEP contains is what was agreed upon to be allocated funds,” she added.
Her remarks came after Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Congress, which holds the constitutional “power of the purse,” has the authority to revise the proposed budget, and that agency heads themselves often seek realignments during congressional deliberations.
But Castro countered that while Congress has budgetary authority, the executive branch is concerned about potential abuses in the form of unnecessary insertions or reallocations with no clear public benefit.
“The power of the purse should not be abused. When insertions are not beneficial and can lead to abuse, that is what the President wants to avoid,” she said.
Castro also revealed that the President wants the bicameral conference committee meetings on the 2026 budget to be open to the public to ensure transparency in the process.
Asked whether the President is prepared to veto the final version of the budget should it contain anomalous insertions, Castro said it will depend on the review.
“If the insertions are sensible and beneficial, then likely they won’t be vetoed. But if they’re found to be questionable or abusive, the President will not hesitate to veto them,” she said.
On the possibility of a reenacted budget in case of a standoff between Malacañang and Congress, Castro acknowledged that such a scenario would have consequences but said the President is willing to take the political hit if it means protecting public funds.
“The President is willing to sacrifice just to show the people that the country’s funds should not be abused,” she said.
