Proposed 2026 nat'l budget under President's review — Recto
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (PPA Pool)
Malacañang on Tuesday, Dec. 30, assured the public that President Marcos and his team are "scrutinizing" the proposed 2026 national budget to ensure that all allocations and its provisions are fully accounted for any changes from the original National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto made the commitment after receiving the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) amounting to a historic P6.793 trillion, which the House of Representatives ratified on Monday, Dec. 29 following its signing a day prior.
Recto said the Executive Branch "is now conducting a thorough review to ensure its integrity and effective execution."
"We will ensure that the 2026 GAA will satisfy not only the legal and technical requirements but, more importantly, the needs of the Filipino people," he said.
"This review is expected to take about a week," he added.
Recto also assured the Filipino people that a brief period under a reenacted budget will not disrupt government operations.
"This deliberate review safeguards fiscal discipline and ensures that taxpayers’ hard-earned money is spent wisely and translated into benefits for the Filipino people," he added.
The House of Representatives ratified, in less than a minute, the 2026 GAB in what could be one of its shortest plenary sessions in history.
Several lawmakers still opposed its passing as they said it was done hastily. They also flagged the process by which the GAB was approved as well as its unjustified reductions in critical infrastructure programs, and the continuing misuse of Unprogrammed Appropriations.