Statement of Malacañang on Crafting of National Budget by Congress
Malacañang called on the Congress not to abuse the “power of the purse” in the making of the national budget for 2026.
During his State of the Nation Address or SONA 2025 last Monday, July 28, Pres. Bongbong Marcos vowed to the Filipino people that he will not approve a budget that is not aligned with the plans of the government for the benefit of the Filipinos. According to him, he is willing to go as far as having a reenacted budget to make sure of it.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos also claimed that he will return budget proposals that are misaligned with the National Expenditure Program or NEP. His statement came after some of the flood control projects of the government were found to be substandard.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero was asked about the remarks of the Chief Executive regarding the crafting of the national budget. Escudero managed to remain in the Senate presidency in the 20th Congress.
Nineteen (19) senators voted for Chiz Escudero to remain as Senate president in the 20th Congress. Senate Minority Leader Tito Sotto got five (5) votes. When asked about the remarks of Marcos Jr., the Senate President stressed that the Congress should not be a “rubber stamp”. In the House of Representatives, Speaker Martin Romualdez also retained his seat.
On the remarks of Pres. Bongbong Marcos over the national budget, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero stressed that the Congress still has the “power of the purse”. Recently, Malacañang made a call to the Congress.
Based on a report on PhilStar, Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire T. Castro called on the Congress not to abuse the “power of the purse”. She stressed that the budget should not be having insertions that will not truly benefit the people.
”Hindi po dapat abusuhin iyong sinasabing power of the purse at maraming magkaroon… kung mayroon mang insertions at hindi mapapakinabangan na tunay,” the Malacañang official said.
Atty. Claire Castro emphasized that what Pres. Bongbong Marcos just wants is for the budget to be clean. Based on the report, the Malacañang press officer also said that Marcos Jr. wants the bicameral conference on the 2026 budget to be open to the public as much as possible.
According to Atty. Castro, Pres. Marcos and the Cabinet secretaries worked hard in the preparation of the NEP. Recently, presidential cousin and House Speaker Martin Romualdez filed a resolution seeking to allow watchdogs during the budget deliberations.