President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. intends to closely monitor the framing of next year’s national budget to ensure it supports his administration’s priorities, but this should not be misconstrued to mean that he will physically sit in with Congress during deliberations, Malacañang clarified yesterday.
In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said the earlier pronouncement about Mr. Marcos sitting in as an observer in the bicameral budget deliberations should not be taken literally.
“He will definitely not sit in during the bicam meeting. This is just an expression to show the people that he will keep an eye on the national budget for 2026,” Castro said.
“The budget should be based on the priorities of the government, and it should prioritize the shovel-ready projects of the government,” she added.
Castro expressed optimism that no issues would be raised to ensure the smooth and swift passage of the proposed 2026 budget.
On Tuesday, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the chief executive had expressed willingness to join the bicameral conference committee’s budget deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget, if needed.
She explained that Mr. Marcos wants to ensure that the proposed 2026 national budget only includes “shovel-ready projects.”
Pangandaman pointed out that the national government’s 2026 budget could reach P6.793 trillion.
The Department of Budget and Management earlier said the government agencies’ budget proposals for 2026 have reached P11 trillion, higher than the P9 trillion in funding requests for 2025.
Meanwhile, Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson welcomed the President’s plan to put next year’s allocation under a microscope, saying it will send a strong signal to Congress “not to make a mockery of our role in the budget process.”
He said Mr. Marcos should not only consider asking for Cabinet resignations to recalibrate his administration, but also leverage his influence over Congress, especially the House of Representatives.
Lacson made the suggestion to eliminate self-serving “insertions” and “pork barrel” allocations during the discussions for the upcoming 2026 national budget.
The returning senator described the 2025 General Appropriations Act as a “deadly virus” that is destroying the country.
“With the President leading the effort to curb the insatiable greed of some legislators, I pledge to do my part to help him create a national budget that truly responds to the people’s demand for responsible spending and for a more modest approach from Congress in addressing the needs of their constituents,” Lacson said.
He suggested that all other forms of financial aid should be integrated with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) within the National Expenditure Program, extending to the Enrolled Bill.
“It is time to ensure that the Filipino people can benefit more from the taxes they pay from their hard-earned money,” he added.