Marcos doesn’t want reenacted budget for 2026

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December 3, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday urged Congress to fast track the deliberations on the P6.793-trillion proposed national budget for next year to avoid a reenactment of the 2025 outlay, a scenario seen to stall development programs and economic growth.

“The work should be faster. The deliberation should be faster. The President does not want a reenacted budget, we know that. So as much as possible, let us speed up (the deliberation) even if we are pressed for time,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a press briefing.

Castro was reacting to Senate finance committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian’s statement that the chamber is on track to approve the 2026 budget despite the disruption caused by a fire that hit the Senate building last weekend.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III told reporters yesterday that “all is well” and there will be no reenacted budget.

Gatchalian admitted that senators are working on a tight schedule in their deliberation on the 2026 budget, which the Marcos administration said would allow more investments in programs benefiting the people.

But Sotto said the Senate has more than enough time. “Kayang-kayang ipasa ’to (We can easily pass this),” the Senate President said. The Senate hopes to see the 2026 budget signed into law on Dec. 29.

The proposed national budget for next year is 7.4 percent higher than the P6.326-trillion outlay for 2025 and is equivalent to 22 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Budget deliberations have been in the spotlight because of the flood control mess, in which corrupt officials and contractors have earned billions of pesos in kickbacks from substandard and ghost projects.

The Marcos administration has ordered a probe and vowed to have perpetrators punished.

In his budget message, President Marcos said the Philippines has recovered from the pandemic, “but there is still much to rebuild and there is still much that can be achieved.”

“I urge the honorable members of Congress to swiftly enact this budget. Let us work together to realize the full potential of our nation, nurture future-ready generations and fulfill our dream of a Bagong Pilipinas,” he said.

The proposed budget is now in the period of amendments ahead of the scheduled third and final reading on Dec. 9.

The Senate will have one week after approval to finalize documents before the bicameral conference committee with the House of Representatives. — Neil Jayson Servallos