Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday, August 16, said the Senate is strongly committed to conducting a timely, transparent, accountability-driven process to scrutinize the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027.

Despite running a busy schedule with an impeachment trial on the side, Gatchalian said the Upper Chamber is poised to hold budget hearings at the soonest possible time.

“As we will soon begin committee deliberations on the proposed national budget for next year, the Senate will be guided by a strict focus on public trust, fiscal responsibility, and timely execution,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian made the statement following the recent turnover to the Senate of the 2027 national expenditure program (NEP) by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“Our goal is simple, and that is to ensure that every peso counts with the help of mechanisms for transparency and accountability,” he said.

“Whether it is allocated for education, healthcare, infrastructure, social protection, or job creation, every peso in the 2027 budget must directly benefit the Filipino people and drive inclusive economic growth across the country,” he added.

In addition to ensuring transparency and accountability in the budgeting process, Gatchalian said the Senate’s final output would include strict safeguards to that end.

Earlier, Senate Finance Committee chief, Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said the Senate will not accept any last-minute budget insertions, especially during the bicameral conference committee.

Ejercito also said there would be no “secret bicams” or “small bicams” that would be held as every amendments or insertions would only be manifested during the plenary budget deliberations, which will be made public and also livestreamed.

Moreover, the Senate will not allow “leadership funds” in the 2027 national budget, which former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan claimed in his testimony before the Sandiganbayan where he is facing plunder and graft cases in connection to the flood control anomalies.

“As far as we are concerned, there would be no leadership fund. I will continue what Sen. (Sherwin) Gatchalian had started…” Ejercito said in an interview last Thursday.