Manila: The House of Representatives on Monday formally started the deliberations on the PHP6.793-trillion proposed national budget for 2026. Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez pledged that the House would meticulously examine the proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) transmitted by the Department of Budget Management to Congress on August 14.

According to Philippines News Agency, Speaker Romualdez emphasized the importance of ensuring that every peso has a purpose and benefits the people. He addressed members of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) at the commencement of the House briefings on the proposed budget for the upcoming year. Four DBCC members, including Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, briefed the House appropriations committee, chaired by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mika Suansing, on the proposed national budget approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on July 15.

Romualdez assured the Executive Branch that the House would thoroughly scrutinize, question, and deliberate the budget. He stressed that this process is not adversarial but rather a collaborative effort with a shared purpose. He highlighted that the budget hearings are not merely a routine fiscal exercise but a critical evaluation of how the people's money aligns with their needs.

The House has taken measures to enhance transparency, ending the practice of the 'small committee' and welcoming civil society observers. This move aims to provide the Filipino people with full transparency in the planning, allocation, and expenditure of their hard-earned money.

The 2026 NEP, themed 'Agenda for Prosperity: Nurturing Future-Ready Generations to Achieve the Full Potential of the Nation,' builds on the foundations laid over the past three years of the Marcos administration. The NEP serves as the national government's proposed budget for the next fiscal year, forming the basis for the General Appropriations Bill, which becomes law once signed by the President.

Aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the 2026 NEP prioritizes key programs in education, infrastructure, digitalization, health, and social services. The spending plan includes the anticipated government expenditure for the next fiscal year and the allocated funds for various programs and initiatives.