Congress Budget Cuts Draw Attention for 2026
MANILA, Philippines — The 2026 proposed budget reveals significant cuts to the allocations for Congress, which includes the Senate, the House of Representatives, and other offices. The Office of the Vice President (OVP) also faces a similar reduction, despite their distinct roles in government. This move has sparked discussion among officials and community members about the implications of these budget changes.
According to data from the 2026 National Expenditures Program (NEP), Congress is set to receive P26.39 billion, which is over P3 billion less than the originally proposed P30.18 billion. The NEP, approved by the president, serves as the basis for the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) proposed by the House. Once signed by the president, the GAB becomes the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Budget Breakdown for Congress Offices
In 2025, Congress was allocated P31.24 billion under the NEP, indicating a P4.8 billion reduction heading into 2026. The branch comprises five key agencies: the Senate, Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET), Commission on Appointments (CA), House of Representatives, and House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).
Here is the detailed breakdown of the 2026 proposed allocations for these offices:
- Senate: Proposed P9.67 billion, final NEP recommendation at P7.52 billion
- SET: Proposed P391.8 million, final NEP recommendation at P329.8 million
- CA: Proposed P1.76 billion, final NEP recommendation at P1.089 billion
- House of Representatives: Proposed P17.26 billion, final NEP recommendation at P17.20 billion
- HRET: Proposed P1.1 billion, final NEP recommendation at P255.9 million
Comparing these figures to the 2025 NEP allocations, the Senate saw a decrease from P12.83 billion, SET increased slightly from P311.9 million, CA dropped from P1.316 billion, the House rose from P16.34 billion, and HRET declined from P490.6 million. When placed against the actual 2025 GAA, which allocated P50.81 billion to Congress, the 2026 budget represents a substantial cut.
Office of the Vice President Faces Budget Reduction
The Office of the Vice President is slated to receive P902.8 million in the 2026 NEP. While this amount appears higher than the P744.1 million allocated in the 2025 GAA, it falls short of the executive’s original 2025 proposal of P2.026 billion. Furthermore, the 2026 proposed budget is lower than the P1.783 billion OVP received in 2024.
These budgetary shifts come amid ongoing political tensions involving the House, the Senate, and the OVP, especially following the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte earlier this year.
Political Context: Impeachment and Investigations
On February 5, Vice President Sara Duterte was impeached after 215 House members filed a complaint citing alleged misuse of confidential funds, threats against officials, and constitutional violations. The complaint was forwarded to the Senate, which is constitutionally mandated to conduct a trial if at least one-third of House members endorse it.
However, the impeachment trial did not commence immediately. The Senate delayed proceedings due to the election season break and later returned the articles of impeachment to the House, citing constitutional issues. This move was seen by many observers as a failure to deliver justice. Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled the impeachment unconstitutional on July 25, citing violations of the one-year bar rule.
Some of the allegations stemmed from investigations by the House committee on good government and public accountability into the OVP and previously the Department of Education. These inquiries uncovered suspicious names on acknowledgment receipts (ARs) for confidential expenses.
Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop pointed out that one of the signatories was named Mary Grace Piattos, a name resembling a restaurant and a potato chip brand. Additionally, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong presented two ARs—one for the OVP and another for the Department of Education—both signed by a Kokoy Villamin. However, handwriting analysis suggested the signatures differed.
These findings continue to fuel debates about transparency and accountability within government offices.
For more news and updates on Congress budget cuts, visit Filipinokami.com.
