MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives on Tuesday started plenary deliberations on the 2026 national budget.
“I echo the president’s declaration, not a single peso will go to questionable flood control projects in the 2026 budget,” Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. The budget deliberations reached the plenary level after the committee—with 54 lawmakers for, 6 against, and 4 abstaining—approved House Bill 4058 or the 2026 national budget bill earlier on Tuesday. Before the bill was approved by the panel, its budget amendments review subcommittee on Monday worked to reallocate the P255 billion that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) removed from its 2026 budget. As proposed by the subcommittee, the mother committee on Tuesday approved the increase of the 2026 budget of P27 billion for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development by P32 billion.
Also approved were:
-the addition of the following amounts to the Department of Labor and Employment of P3.3 billion for the Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program, and P14.8 billion for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers / Government Internship Program;
-addition of P635.2 million to the budget of the Special Training for Employment Program under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; -addition of P22.5 billion to the budget of P28 billion for “Basic Education Facilities – New Construction, Completion, Rehabilitation, and Fixtures” under the Department of Education;
-addition of P6.6 billion to the budget of the Tertiary Education Subsidy under the Commission on Higher Education;
-reallocation of P7 billion to the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk; and
-reallocation of P7.4 billion to the Commission on Elections’ budget for the Nov. 2026 village and youth council elections.
The above were just some of the reallocations made in connection with the P255 billion.
Last Aug. 13, the Department of Budget and Management turned over the National Expenditure Program, or the executive’s proposed spending plan for 2026, to the House.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the president shall submit to the Congress within 30 days “from the opening of every regular session, as the basis of the general appropriations bill, a budget of expenditures and sources of financing, including receipts from existing and proposed revenue measures.”
The Constitution states that appropriation bills shall originate exclusively in the House but that the Senate may propose or concur with amendments.
The 20th Congress opened session last July 28.
