President Marcos to Oversee 2026 Budget Process
President Marcos has clarified that he will “keep an eye” on the 2026 national budget deliberations, but will not literally attend the meetings. This statement is aimed at reassuring the public that the upcoming budget process will be carefully monitored to align with the government’s priorities.
According to a Palace spokesperson, the phrase “keep an eye” signifies the President’s intention to oversee the bicameral conference committee’s discussions without physically sitting in on the sessions. “Literally, he will not definitely sit during the Bicam meeting, this is just an expression to show to the people that he will keep an eye on the national budget for 2026,” the spokesperson explained during a briefing on May 22.
Ensuring Alignment with Government Priorities
The Palace emphasized that President Marcos will track the budget process closely to ensure it reflects the administration’s key priorities. “So, it should be at least based on the priorities of the government. The budget should be based on the priorities of the government and it should prioritize the projects of the government, so iyon lamang po,” the spokesperson added.
This approach comes after the delay in the approval of the 2025 national budget, which required several meetings with Cabinet members. The President’s decision to watch over the budget deliberations aims to prevent similar delays.
Outlook on Budget Approval Timelines
When asked whether the government expects the 2026 budget to face the same delays, the Palace official declined to make negative predictions. “I do not want to answer a hypothetical question, hindi natin sinasabi na negatibo, but we should always be optimistic,” the spokesperson said.
This cautious optimism highlights the administration’s focus on timely budget approval to support ongoing and upcoming government projects.
For more news and updates on the 2026 budget deliberations, visit Filipinokami.com.