Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will not tolerate questionable 'insertions' in the proposed 2026 national budget, Malaca±ang stated Monday, emphasizing that funds must be allocated solely to legitimate projects and not repeat allocations for completed works. This announcement follows revelations by lawmakers regarding the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), which included budget allocations for projects already finished.
According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed in a media briefing that the President is adamant against any budget 'insertions', stressing that the national budget is intended for the people and the nation's projects. Castro urged lawmakers to coordinate with agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to verify if a flagged project in the budget is indeed completed or still ongoing elsewhere.
President Marcos expressed concern over persistent 'insertions' in the proposed 2026 budget, revealing that ongoing scrutiny continues to uncover anomalies. He emphasized the need for a thorough cleanup and the creation of an independent commission to investigate alleged irregularities within the DPWH. The agency has faced allegations of involvement in anomalous multibillion-peso flood control projects, leading to the resignation of former secretary Manuel Bonoan and the appointment of Vince Dizon as his successor. Dizon's initial action as the new DPWH chief was to request the courtesy resignation of all top officials nationwide in a comprehensive effort to eliminate corruption and ghost projects, as directed by Marcos.
In the Senate, Senator Panfilo Lacson advocated for the protection of the Department of Education's (DepEd) budget, emphasizing that it should not be overshadowed by other agencies, especially the DPWH. Lacson criticized the previous year's budget allocation, which favored DPWH over the education sector, despite constitutional mandates prioritizing education in budgetary considerations. He highlighted the disparity in the 2025 budget, where DPWH was allotted PHP1.007 trillion, surpassing the PHP977.6 billion allocated to DepEd, State Universities and Colleges, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
