Press Officer of Malacañang Speaks on Congress’ “Power of the Purse”
Malacañang spoke on the Congress’ “power of the purse” over the crafting of the 2026 National Budget and the upcoming bicameral committee conference for the budget deliberation.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos will not sign budget proposals that are not in line with the plans of the government. That is what the Chief Executive promised to the Filipino people during his 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) last Monday, July 28.
According to Marcos Jr., he can go as far as having a reenacted budget with regards to the matter. He stressed that he would return budget proposals that are misaligned with the NEP or the National Expenditure Program. His statement hooked different reactions from the people.
Following the remarks of Pres. Bongbong Marcos, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero was asked about his reaction to it. Escudero who managed to remain in his seat as the chief of the upper chamber stressed that the Congress must not be a rubber stamp in the crafting of the national budget.
According to the Senate President, the Congress still has the “power of the purse”. Amid the upcoming bicameral conference committee budget deliberation, Malacañang recently spoke on the budget proposal for next year.
Based on a report on PhilStar, Malacañang press undersecretary Claire Castro told the Congress that the “power of the purse” should not be abused by having budget insertions that are not truly beneficial to the Filipino people.
”Hindi po dapat abusuhin iyong sinasabing power of the purse at maraming magkaroon… kung mayroon mang insertions at hindi mapapakinabangan na tunay,” Castro said.
The press official of Malacañang also stressed that it is the only desire of Pres. Bongbong Marcos for the national budget not to have insertions that will not benefit the people. According to her, the President wants a “clean” national budget. Furthermore, based on the report, she also expressed that the Chief Executive wants the bicam conference to be open to the public as much as possible.
“Iyan lamang po ang gusto ng Pangulo, kaya gusto niya maging malinis ang budget at hangga’t maaari iyong bicam conference with regard to the conference dito sa budget, 2026 budget ay bukas sa publiko,” the Malacañang official said.
In the House of Representatives, presidential cousin and House Speaker Martin Romualdez managed to remain in the speakership after a solid votes from 264 members of the lower chamber. However, one of those who did not vote for him was Davao First District Congressman Paolo Duterte who walked out after the House session roll call has started.
With regards to the bicam conference committee deliberations of the 2026 budget, House Speaker Martin Romualdez wants “watchdogs” during the budget talks, thus, he filed the House Resolution No. 94.