House of Representatives Plans Timely 2026 Budget
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives aims to approve the 2026 national budget on time, despite budget deliberations expected to begin only by September 1, local leaders said Monday. This commitment to a timely budget approval signals a focused effort to meet deadlines while ensuring thorough review.
According to Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, the House expects to receive the National Expenditures Program (NEP), the proposed budget from the executive branch, by August 13. However, several preparatory steps must be completed before committee hearings commence.
Suansing, recently elected as chairperson of the House committee on appropriations—the body responsible for scrutinizing and amending the annual budget—outlined the timeline and reforms planned for the budget process.
“Tentatively, as we finalize the schedule, we anticipate the NEP will be submitted to Congress around the week of August 13. We will then prepare and file the General Appropriations Bill (GAB),” Suansing explained. “We target to start deliberations by the first week of September, ideally by September 1, beginning with discussions alongside the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC). After that, we will move quickly.”
Reforms to Enhance Budget Transparency
Suansing also emphasized proposed reforms to improve transparency and public involvement in the budget process. One initiative is to allow civil society groups access to the NEP so they can review and suggest improvements to the proposed budget.
She detailed three key reforms: abolishing the so-called “small committee,” opening bicameral conference committee meetings for public viewing, and enabling civil society organizations to observe proceedings and raise concerns.
“While awaiting the filing of the GAB, we plan to conduct initial engagements called the people’s budget review. These intermediary activities will take place before actual deliberations begin on September 1,” Suansing added.
If committee hearings do begin by September, it will mark the latest start under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration.
DBM Submission History and Budget Calendar
Looking back, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) submitted the 2023 NEP on August 22, with committee deliberations starting on August 26. For 2024, the NEP was submitted earlier, on August 2, allowing hearings to begin by August 10. The earliest submission so far was the 2025 NEP on July 29, 2024, which triggered hearings starting August 5.
Despite the comparatively later schedule this year, Suansing assured the budget would still be delivered on time. “The calendar naturally shifts during the first year of a new term. For instance, in 2022, regular sessions of Congress had not yet convened, causing delays. This year, even with a September 1 start, preparatory activities are already underway,” she said.
“All groundwork will be completed before September 1. According to our proposed calendar, we are confident we can meet the deadline. It will involve sleepless nights—perhaps weeks of intense work—but we will ensure the budget is passed on time and thoroughly deliberated,” she added.
Commitment to a People’s Budget and Accountability
Lawmakers are pushing for a true “people’s budget” by incorporating reforms that increase transparency and public participation. These efforts align with House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s call for openness, which he believes serves as a strong deterrent against corruption.
Romualdez’s call followed President Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28, where the president warned he would not approve any budget misaligned with the administration’s programs, even if it results in a reenacted budget.
Marcos’ stern warning stemmed from concerns about possible corruption linked to flood control projects, a key issue raised during his SONA. Senator Panfilo Lacson recently highlighted that nearly half of the almost P2 trillion allocated for flood control since 2011 might have been lost, underscoring the need for thorough budget review and oversight.
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