House Leaders Assure No Reenacted Budget
Local leaders reported that the House of Representatives remains confident it can avoid a reenacted budget for 2026, even if the National Expenditures Program (NEP) is sent back for revision. This assurance came despite concerns about potential delays in budget approval.
Deputy Speaker Janette Garin addressed these worries during a press briefing, emphasizing that the House can forgo its scheduled break in October to focus on the budget deliberations. “Do’n po sa kaba ng iba na baka hindi kayanin kasi kulang sa tiempo, sanay naman po ’yong ating mga kongresista na magtrabaho 24/7. I believe with the input of all party leaders, pwede namang i-cancel na ’yong break ng Kongreso at wala nang break—tuloy-tuloy na—maski abutan tayo ng Pasko, ng New Year,” she said.
Commitment to Continuous Work
Garin highlighted that lawmakers are accustomed to intense work schedules, especially during critical periods. She further explained the willingness to sacrifice the one-month break from October 10 to November 11 for the country’s benefit. “Mas masakit ’yong pipilitin natin ’yong isang budget himayin,” she added, pointing out current challenges in overseeing budget insertions, particularly within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Officials noted that many insertions lack transparency, with no one admitting their origin.
Experience from Past Budget Challenges
Community members recalled similar budget challenges in previous years. Quezon representative Wilfrido Mark Enverga mentioned the 2020 budget issues, where a leadership dispute stalled discussions. The House then held a special session authorized by the President to ensure timely budget approval.
Another budget delay occurred in 2018 due to disagreements over insertions between the House and Senate, resulting in the 2019 budget being signed into law only by April 2019.
Better Prepared for 2026 Budget Process
Enverga expressed confidence that the current Congress is in a better position compared to past experiences. “Talagang nagmarathon kami dito, So it’s doable. Walang uwian, magdamag. So I think we’re prepared for that,” he said. He also noted that this year’s budget discussions started earlier, unlike during the 18th Congress when debates were held mid-plenary.
He stressed the importance of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) providing a clear list of priorities to facilitate the process.
Recommendation to Return NEP to DBM
Party leaders, led by Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno of the National Unity Party, recommended returning the NEP to the DBM due to numerous problematic allocations across various agencies. They discovered that, similar to DPWH’s case of funding completed projects, other agencies had questionable budget items.
Puno warned that continuing with the current budget could result in several errata, raising suspicions of irregular realignments.
Temporary Suspension of Deliberations
In response, party leaders have reportedly instructed members to refrain from attending budget deliberations until these concerns are addressed. Puno cited instances where completed projects, such as those in Marikina and Antipolo, were still receiving allocations.
Antipolo’s representative filed a resolution to investigate alleged “ghost” flood control projects, reflecting growing concerns about budget transparency.
Calls for Greater Budget Scrutiny
Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s condemnation of officials and contractors involved in kickbacks from flood control projects, there is a strong push for more rigorous budget oversight. The President warned lawmakers he would reject any budget not aligned with the administration’s programs, even if it meant reenacting the budget.
In response, the House has introduced reforms such as allowing third-party observers during deliberations, removing the special committee, and opening bicameral conference meetings to the public.
However, Puno emphasized that simply amending the NEP would be insufficient due to the volume of errata involved.
For more news and updates on national budget reforms, visit Filipinokami.com.
