Amid the Holiday Season, Marcos Jr. Spent “Working Christmas” for 2026 Budget
MARCOS JR. – The President is reportedly set to sign the proposed P6.79 trillion budget for the Philippine government this 2026.
Amid the delay in the budget process during the bicameral conference committee’s session, the Palace stressed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos is confident of the timely passage of the 2026 budget. According to Malacañang press officer undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, the President himself does not want a reenacted budget.
Malacañang Palace also previously claimed that it was a working Christmas holiday for Pres. Bongbong Marcos. He and his team reviewed the proposed P6.79 trillion national budget approved by the bicam.
Based on the initial National Expenditure Program or NEP, the Office of the President is requesting for a P27.3 billion budget for 2026. It includes the P4.5 billion confidential and intelligence funds.
The office of Marcos Jr. is poised to get the lion’s share in the proposed confidential and intel funds for 2026. Included in the OP’s proposed budget is the P1.018 billion requested fund for his local and foreign trips this year.
The proposed budget of the Office of the President for the Chief Executive’s local and foreign trips in 2026 is lower from the P1.29 billion allocation for 2025. Based on a post of News5, Marcos Jr. is allegedly set to sign the proposed P6.79 trillion budget for 2026 today.
Based on the post, the reporters were allegedly not allowed to bring their mobile phones during the ceremonial signing of the 2026 national budget by Pres. Bongbong Marcos. On the first week of January 2026, the country is operating on a reenacted budget and the authorities believe that it will not be really bad for the first few days of the year.
With regards to the office of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, the bicam approved an P889.2 million budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in 2026. It matched the initial proposal of the executive department despite the cut from the House of Representatives during the budget process.
The House previously cut the OVP’s proposed budget to P733.2 million after the Vice President ditched a hearing. The Senate restored the budget for Duterte’s office to P889.2 million after adding some funds from other offices like the office of Senator Bong Go. The OVP did not ask for confidential funds in 2026.
With regards to the proposed budget for the Department of Public Works and Highways amid the flood control mess, the bicam reduced the 2026 budget for the department led by DPWH chief Vince Dizon to more than P300 billion lower.