House Leaders Champion Budget Transparency Reforms
Manila — The House of Representatives leadership has made a significant stride in budget reforms by granting civil society groups access to the 2026 proposed budget, known as the National Expenditure Program (NEP). This move marks a milestone for transparency and public participation in government spending.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez confirmed that the ₱6.793-trillion NEP for 2026 was provided to representatives from various civil society organizations. This initiative reflects the chamber’s commitment to making the budget process more open and inclusive.
Civil Society Groups Receive 2026 National Expenditure Program
The groups that received copies of the NEP include Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Social Watch, CODE-NGO, Jesse Robredo Institute of Governance, Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development, Child Rights Network, Parents Against Vape, Multiply-Ed Philippines, FOI Youth Initiative, Safe Travel PH, REID Foundation, People’s Budget Coalition/Citizens’ Budget Tracker, and Novalerto Youth, among others.
Romualdez emphasized the importance of trust in government budgets, stating, “This is not just about documents—it’s about trust. The budget is the lifeblood of government. It tells our people where we are putting their hopes and their hard-earned taxes. If we want our people to trust us, they must see and feel that the budget is truly theirs.”
Commitment to Public Welfare in Budget Review
He added, “In the coming weeks, we will review every page of this NEP guided by one question: Will it improve the lives of our people? If yes, we will support it. If not, we will work to make it better.” Romualdez also stressed that every peso should have a clear purpose and that expenditures must benefit the public, reinforcing that a trustworthy budget leads to a government the people can believe in.
Ceremonial Turnover and Legislative Backing
The formal turnover of the NEP took place at the Batasang Pambansa social hall shortly after the Department of Budget and Management handed over the document to the House. The event was attended by key House leaders, including Deputy Speakers Janette Garin, Yasser Alonto Balindong, Yevgeny Emano, Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing.
This milestone was made possible by the adoption of House Resolution No. 94, authored by Romualdez and Tingog Party-list representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre. The resolution mandates that bona fide people’s organizations be formally accredited and invited as official non-voting observers during public deliberations of the Committee on Appropriations and its subcommittees in crafting the national budget.
Guidelines for Civil Society Participation
The Committee on Appropriations is tasked to collaborate with the Committee on People’s Participation to establish guidelines for eligibility, accreditation, and the scope of involvement of civil society organizations. This aligns with Rep. Mikaela Suansing’s reform proposals, which include abolishing the “small committee,” opening bicameral conference committee meetings to the public, and accrediting civil society groups to observe and voice concerns during budget discussions.
Allocation Highlights of the 2026 Proposed Budget
According to a briefing from the Department of Budget and Management, education receives the largest allocation at ₱928.5 billion. This is followed by public works with ₱881.3 billion and health at ₱320.5 billion. Other significant sectors include defense (₱299.3 billion), interior and local government (₱287.5 billion), agriculture (₱239.2 billion), social welfare (₱277.0 billion), transportation (₱198.6 billion), judiciary (₱67.9 billion), and labor and employment (₱55.2 billion).
By sector, social services are allocated ₱2.314 trillion, economic services ₱1.868 trillion, general public services ₱1.202 trillion, debt burden ₱978.7 billion, and defense ₱430.9 billion.
Budget Process Reforms Following Presidential Warning
The House’s reforms come after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned Congress during his fourth State of the Nation Address that he would reject any national budget significantly deviating from the NEP, even if it meant reenacting the previous budget. This stern message was delivered amid scrutiny over the 2025 General Appropriations Act, which faced allegations of blank items and last-minute insertions funding flood control projects.
Officials reported that the President criticized government personnel and contractors for allegedly receiving kickbacks from these projects. Senator Panfilo Lacson also raised concerns that half of the nearly ₱2-trillion flood control budget since 2011 might have been lost to corruption.
These developments underscore the urgency for transparency and accountability in budget planning and execution.
For more news and updates on budget reforms, visit Filipinokami.com.
