Senate Urged to Adopt National Expenditure Program to Curb Corruption

Senate Considers Full Adoption of National Expenditure Program

In an effort to tackle alleged corruption in the national budget, Sen. Panfilo Lacson has proposed that the Senate adopt the National Expenditure Program (NEP) in its entirety. He emphasized that the NEP items have already undergone thorough scrutiny by the Executive Department, making this proposal a potential safeguard against irregularities.

Officials reported that this move aims to prevent issues similar to those experienced in the 2025 national budget, which faced criticism due to congressional insertions and budget realignments. “For a change, why not have the Senate adopt the NEP so that if there will be problems in implementing projects in 2026, it will be on the executive department?” Lacson said during a dzRH interview.

Rationale Behind Adopting the National Expenditure Program

Community members noted that adopting the NEP could streamline the budget approval process and reduce opportunities for unauthorized modifications by lawmakers. Lacson added, “At least if it’s the NEP, I’m sure the items in it were studied carefully by the implementing agencies concerned.” This suggests that the executive branch’s vetting process ensures a more reliable allocation of funds.

Local leaders highlighted that after adopting the NEP, both the Senate and the House of Representatives must vigilantly oversee project implementation to ensure accountability. “This will be a one-year experiment. If it fails, we go back to the realignment,” Lacson explained, signaling a trial period for this approach.

Next Steps and Budget Deliberations

Sources said that Lacson is considering formally moving to adopt the NEP during the upcoming briefing of the Development Budget Coordination Committee later this month. Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management submitted the administration’s proposed P6.79-trillion budget for 2026 on August 13.

Officials reported that this proposed budget represents a 7.4 percent increase from the enacted 2025 budget of P6.326 trillion. The submission marks the start of extensive deliberations in both chambers of Congress, with the Senate and House set to convene a Bicameral Conference Committee to reconcile differences and finalize the General Appropriations Bill.

Implications for Transparency and Fiscal Discipline

Community members expressed hope that the full adoption of the National Expenditure Program will promote transparency and fiscal discipline. By limiting congressional insertions and realignments, the government could better ensure that funds are used as intended by the executive agencies responsible for project implementation.

Local leaders concluded that this experiment, if successful, might set a precedent for future budget processes, fostering greater cooperation between the legislative and executive branches.

For more news and updates on the National Expenditure Program, visit Filipinokami.com.

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