Malacañang gave an assurance that the unprogrammed appropriations under the proposed 2026 national budget will not end up as "pork barrel." Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said that although P250 billion falls under the unprogrammed appropriations, it will be...
Malacañang has defended the inclusion of P250 billion in unprogrammed appropriations under the proposed 2026 national budget, saying the funds serve as a vital contingency reserve for emergencies and unforeseen needs, with President Marcos himself ensuring they are properly managed. Communications...
The Senate will push for zero unprogrammed funds in the proposed 2026 national budget, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Monday, October 6. Sotto said this is part of the government’s bid for a transparent budget in light of the controversy in flood control projects. The...
While President Marcos has scrapped next year 's budget for flood control projects, it does not mean that his administration has given up on infrastructure. Marcos pointed out that the government cannot stop from implementing infrastructure projects as doing so would mean stopping the country...
Amid the continuous investigation into the flood control project scandal, Senator Bam Aquino is pushing for a bill that seeks the tap blockchain technology in the national budget as a means to curb corruption. Tacklec during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology presided by...
Soon after Congress convenes every July, the President submits a proposal to the House of Representatives that details what the government needs to operate and to implement projects in the coming year; the revenues that it expects to generate; and how much it needs to borrow to cover the proposed...
Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Loren Legarda renewed the push for Congress to increase the budget for scholarships for children of combatants to improve the overall peace situation in the country. During the 2026 budget deliberation for the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace,...
Stressing the link between government accountability and the state of Philippine education, a teachers’ group on Thursday, September 18, called on teachers, education workers, and advocates to participate in a nationwide rally against corruption this weekend. The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition...
The Department of Education (DepEd) vowed to fully utilize its proposed budget and all the amount it would get from flood control realignments to fund the various needs of the agency for next year, Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said on Tuesday, September 16. Angara made this assurance...
President Marcos has bared the "menu" that will serve as a guide for lawmakers in making budget adjustments, following the cancellation of flood control budget for 2026. The supposed flood control budget will be realigned to priority sectors such as education, health, agriculture, housing,...
A Senate finance subpanel on Wednesday, September 10 has approved the proposed budget of the Office of the President (OP) and the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) for 2026, marking it “deemed submitted” for plenary consideration. The OP has a proposed budget of P27.3-billion, while PMS has...
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday, September 4 said that while the House of Representatives cannot return the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026 back to Malacañang to fix the “mangled” entries there, another option is available. For instance, Lacson said the Department of...
