President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday reiterated that he will return any General Appropriations Bill that deviates significantly from the administration’s proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP), even if it means operating under a reenacted budget for 2026.
In an episode of his BBM Podcast, the President responded to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s recent remarks asserting Congress’ “power of the purse.”
Mr. Marcos acknowledged Congress’ authority to amend the budget but stressed that the executive must provide the plan to ensure public funds are not wasted or misused.
“It’s really the job of Congress to craft the budget. But it’s our job to provide the plan and request funding… so that the people’s money doesn’t get lost, wasted, or stolen,” he said.
The President expressed concern about changes in past budgets, particularly the removal of funds for foreign-assisted projects and the insertion of funding for unapproved items. “We’re borrowing money just so these people can steal from it. That’s too much,” he said.
When asked whether he was ready to reenact the current budget if Congress submits a version misaligned with the NEP, Mr. Marcos responded: “Oh, yes… I made New Year’s Day the hard deadline. I’m sure we will find a way.”
His warning comes as Congress prepares to deliberate on the 2026 NEP submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). In his fourth State of the Nation Address, the President also vowed to hold accountable those behind failed or non-existent flood control projects flagged in audit reports.
Meanwhile, newly appointed Senate Committee on Finance chair Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday said the 2026 national budget will be an “education budget” and mark a “golden age of transparency.” He warned against a reenacted budget, saying it would eliminate capital outlays and slow down the economy.
Gatchalian said the Senate panel will ensure that the administration’s education priorities are reflected in the budget and announced a suite of transparency measures, including requiring the DBM to upload all budget documents—not just the NEP and General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“This is part of the golden age of transparency we’re aiming for, so the public can trace the budget from start to finish,” Gatchalian said, noting that many intermediary documents are currently unavailable online. He also called for uploading Budget Preparation Form 2011, which shows agency-level budget requests before DBM approval.
The senator criticized the House of Representatives for transmitting the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) in printed form only, which is not searchable or accessible to the public. He will ask the House to submit digital versions and include detailed agency breakdowns, particularly from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Gatchalian said the Senate will upload its committee reports, Senate versions, and bicameral conference committee reports to ensure transparency. He also supports publishing a matrix comparing House and Senate budget versions to highlight changes, even if not all sponsors of amendments can be identified.
“If there’s a huge increase in an agency’s budget, we can now study if that increase is justified and in line with the agency’s mandate,” he said, adding that the committee respects the President’s warning about vetoing misaligned budgets.
