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'Tuloy pa rin:' House budget hearings to go on despite party leaders' NEP return bid

Philippines | National

'Tuloy pa rin:' House budget hearings to go on despite party leaders' NEP return bid

By Ellson Quismorio

At A Glance

House Committee on Appropriations chairperson, Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep, Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing announced on Wednesday night, Sept. 3 that the ongoing budget deliberations on the P6.793-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026 will continue.

Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

House Committee on Appropriations chairperson, Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep, Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing announced on Wednesday night, Sept. 3 that the ongoing budget deliberations on the P6.793-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026 will continue.

"With the concurrence of the party leaders, all budget hearings will proceed as scheduled, from tomorrow, September 4, until September 16. Thank you," Suansing said in a terse statement.

This was a few hours after party leaders headed by Deputy Speaker Antipolo 1st district Rep. Ronaldo "Ronnie" Puno bared that they have requested from House Speaker Martin Romualdez to have the proposed budget next year returned to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Puno said the proposed outlay was replete with irregularities, and that it wasn't the House of Representatives' job to fix it.

Suansing did not specify the party leaders she conferred it. However, Puno said the panel chairperson was informed of the return request in advance, just like the House Speaker.

The appropriations panel is on its third week of deliberations on the 2026 NEP. To be tackled Thursday, Sept. 4 are the budgets of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

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