31/07/2025
31 Hulyo, 2025 Huwebes
Welcomes 20th Congress
Supports July Disaster Resilience Month
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Deepest sympathy to the family of the late Dionisio Baculna who returns back to his creator, remains lies in his estate in Patnongon, Antique
Budget power of Congress asserted
By J.Lo
“While I agree that administration has prerogative to pursue its proposed budget, under the Constitution, power of the purse still belongs to Congress,” Senate President Francis Escudero asserted Congress’ constitutional authority over national budget, saying administration cannot always get its way and make rubber stamp of Congress.
In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) , President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.warned he would veto 2026 budget if it would be deemed not fully aligned with executive’s priorities.
Escudero said Senate would not hesitate to introduce amendments to budget based on consultations and input, adding that while House of Representatives may choose otherwise, Senate intends to exercise its oversight role independently.
“If House is willing to do that and it seems to be afraid to do that, then that’s their call…but on the part of Senate, we will review budget and we will propose amendments that need to be proposed,” he said.
He also called on executive branch to set example by restraining its own agencies from lobbying lawmakers for additional funds during budget season.
President Marcos told Congress during his SONA that he would not sign budget “not aligned with vision of administration,” statement widely seen as warning to lawmakers to keep amendments within limits.
Marcos made remark after admitting that some of the country’s flood control projects are substandard. He vowed to press charges against those involved in irregularities that worsened effects of recent cyclones.
Asked if he felt alluded to amid reports tying him to corruption related to flood control projects, Escudero replied “no,” claiming there are no members of Senate who are government contractors or suppliers.
“I didn’t feel alluded to because you have to remember there is no one in Senate contractor or supplier or at the same time member of upper chamber… I don’t think I can say or we can say the same for House of Representatives,” he added.
For his part, Sen. Panfilo Lacson renewed his call to open bicameral conference committee hearings on national budget to public, saying while this could not fully prevent insertion of “pork barrel” funds, it would help easily determine lawmakers who would attempt such insertions.
Lacson is also pushing for longer periods for Senate to review House’s amendments to National Expenditure Program (NEP), and for Congress to review and revise budget bill if it gets vetoed by President.
“It is still possible that some insertions could be made, but at least we can identify those who did so for their projects…we can track differences between General Appropriations Bill and National Expenditure Program, with public observing and with minutes and transcripts of proceedings,” he said.
Lacson has also proposed that lawmakers be given more time to enroll and review budget bill so that if the President vetoes it, they can review and resubmit it for the President’s signature before Dec. 31.
“We need ample time to enroll budget bill and to review and re-enroll it if the President vetoes it… deadline is Dec. 31…if the President doesn’t sign it by that date, we automatically have reenacted budget on Jan. 1,” he said.
For Sen. JV Ejercito, Congress should prioritize passage of Senate Bill No. 1, seeks to provide P74.4-billion supplemental subsidy to Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), warning that delays would undermine full implementation of Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.
“I hope UHC is really given importance… law is there, and what’s lacking is aggressive implementation and funds,” Ejercito, principal author of UHC Law, said.
Ejercito stressed additional funding for PhilHealth, along with allocations for government hospitals, is necessary to sustain reforms such as zero balance billing policy, promises no out-of-pocket expenses for patients admitted in Department of Health hospitals.
While welcoming President Marcos’ mention of zero balance billing in his recent SONA, Ejercito criticized slow pace of UHC implementation even if benefits highlighted by the President free consultations, cancer screening and zero balance billing have long been part of law’s provisions.
Meanwhile, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said Cabinet has reached consensus to halt all further requests for additional allocation.
“That was the agreement of full Cabinet, that no one would make further requests, no changes, nothing, because there was enough time to thoroughly review and finalize budget during earlier discussions,” Pangandaman said.
She emphasized that national budget operates on zero-sum principle, meaning any increase in funding for one government agency would require corresponding cut from another, as total budget ceiling has already been firmly set.
For 2026, budget proposed is P6.793 trillion, 7.4 percent increase from this year’s budget of P6.326 trillion. National budget is equivalent to 22 percent of country’s gross domestic product.
While Department of Budget and Management is setting its sights on drafting formal guidelines to manage reenacted 2026 budget, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto remains optimistic that Congress will pass next year’s national appropriation on time.
“I don’t expect reenacted budget because I expect cooperation from Congress… essentially what the President is saying, that as much as possible you can amend budget, but let’s make sure we have the same priorities spelled out in NEP,” he said.
In a post-SONA report, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.said his administration continues to implement “effective” debt management that safeguards future generations against extreme debt burden.
“Ensuring that borrowings support productive investments and expenditure while maintaining fiscal sustainability allows economy to grow faster compared to its obligations,” he said.
