It's not perfect, but it's a first step.

That's how House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III described the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026, which was overwhelmingly approved on third and final reading Monday, Oct. 13.

“Maaaring hindi perpekto ang ating badyet, ngunit ito ay malinaw na simula ng bagong yugto sa ating paglilingkod—ang unang hakbang tungo sa tunay na badyet ng bayan: bukas at tapat sa sambayanan,” Dy said during his adjournment address during plenary session late Monday afternoon.

(Our budget may not be perfect, but it is clearly the beginning of a new chapter in our service—the first step toward a true People’s Budget: Open and Honest to the Nation.)

He described the 2026 spending plan as a product of efforts to make the budget process more transparent. “Isang budget na ginawa sa liwanag, hindi sa dilim; na pinagtuunan ng sapat na oras, at nangibabaw ang puso at isip—hindi ang pansariling interes,” he said.

(A budget crafted in the light, not in the dark; one given ample time and guided by heart and mind—not by personal interest.)

“Sa ilalim nito, walang naitago, walang tinago at walang ibang layunin kundi tiyakin na ang bawat piso ng buwis ng ating mga mamamayan ay bumabalik sa kanila sa anyo ng oportunidad, serbisyo, at pag-asa. Ito ang ating panata: ang pera ng taumbayan ay para sa taumbayan. Kailangan nating siguraduhin na ang pondong ito ay ginagamit nang tapat, may malasakit, at ipinagkakatiwala sa mga kamay na may pananagutan,” he said.

(Under this, nothing was hidden, nothing kept secret, and there is no other goal but to ensure that every peso of our citizens’ taxes returns to them in the form of opportunity, service, and hope. This is our pledge: the people’s money is for the people. We must ensure that this fund is used with integrity, compassion, and entrusted to hands that are accountable.)

Transparency was a major talking point during the just-concluded, two-month budget process in the House of Representatives. This, after the issue of budget insertions tainted the current P6.326-trillion 2025 national budget.

The Speaker said the 2026 GAB was crafted with care, deliberation, and integrity to ensure that every peso collected from taxpayers directly benefits ordinary Filipinos through vital programs in education, health, social welfare, and infrastructure.

“Ang sagradong mandato ng pamahalaan ay ang makatarungan, bukas, at responsableng pamamahagi ng yaman at oportunidad para sa ating lahat. Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit tayo naririto. Iyan ang diwa ng Kongreso: tiyakin na ang bawat piso na galing sa buwis ng ating mga kababayan ay ginagamit nang tama at makarating sa mga tunay na nangangailangan,” he said.

(The sacred mandate of the government is the just, transparent, and responsible distribution of wealth and opportunity for all of us. That is the reason we are here. That is the spirit of Congress: to ensure that every peso from our citizens’ taxes is used properly and reaches those who truly need it.)

Both chambers of Congress (House and Senate) went on break after Monday's session. They will reconvene on Nov. 10.

After the break, it will be the Senate’s turn to approve the GAB on third and final reading. The two versions of the budget measure would then be harmonized in a Bicameral Conference Committee hearing.

The resulting harmonized GAB will then be ratified by the two chambers and presented to President Marcos for his signature.