Statement of Marcos Jr. on 2026 National Budget amid Resumption of Hearings
MARCOS JR. – The President claimed that the country can allegedly have “savings” from the 2026 national budget.
Amid the supposed multi-billion flood control corruption in the Philippines, Senate President Tito Sotto previously assured the public that they will make sure to come up with a cleaner 2026 national budget. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives had conducted budget hearings already.
In fact, the House has approved the 2026 proposed budget amounting to P6.793 trillion. The office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos requested for a P27.29 billion budget for next year. His office remained the top confidential and intel funds spender in December 2024 as per the report of the Commission on Audit.
For 2026, Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ office gets the lion’s share in the proposed confidential and intel funds. Out of the P10 billion CIF requested through the National Expenditure Program or NEP for next year, the Office of the President is set to get P4.5 billion of it once approved.
Amid the supposed multi-billion corruption through the flood control projects funded by the government, Marcos Jr. ordered the cleaning out of the proposed 2026 national budget. His order came after there were claims that there were allegedly items in the NEP that seek budget appropriation for the projects that were already completed.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos also ordered the “sweeping review” of the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The review led to budget cuts and the sliced fund was appropriated to other sectors in the government.
Recently, Marcos Jr. spoke about the 2026 national budget. Based on a report on GMA News, during an interview with reporters in South Korea after the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, the President claimed that the country may have “savings” in the 2026 national budget.
“Even now, upon resumption of the budget hearings, marami nang nakita in both Houses, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate na magkakaroon pa tayo ng savings,” the President said.
Based on the report, Marcos Jr. also stressed that it is allegedly possible to come up with a clean budget for next year. Before leaving for South Korea, he asked the DPWH to cut down the costs of its materials for its projects.
“I think we will be able to show that it is, in fact, possible to write a good, clean budget,” he said.
Previously, amid the questions on the Office of the President getting the lion’s share of the CIF, Malacañang defended confidential and intel funds request for the office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.