House pledges rigorous scrutiny of 2027 budget submitted by President Marcos

MANILA – House of Representatives Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Tuesday vowed that the House will subject the proposed PHP7.2 trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for Fiscal Year 2027 to rigorous scrutiny to ensure that every peso delivers concrete benefits to the Filipino people.

As the House formally received the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), Dy said lawmakers would keep Filipinos at the center of the budget process, guided by the government’s theme of “People-Centered Growth for an Inclusive and Resilient Future.”

“Hindi sapat na sabihin kung magkano ang ginagastos. Dapat maipakita kung ano ang nagagawa ng bawat piso. Ang bawat piso ay dapat may katumbas na ginhawa para sa bawat Pilipino (It’s not enough to say how much is being spent. We need to show what every peso can do. Every peso should bring comfort to every Filipino),” he said in his message during the NEP turnover ceremony.

“Sa Bagong Kongreso, masusi nating susuriin ang bawat bahagi ng panukala. Tatanungin natin ang mga ahensiya hindi lamang kung magkano ang kanilang hinihingi, kundi kung paano ito gagamitin at kung anong konkretong bunga ang maibibigay nito sa sambayanan (Under the New Congress, we will thoroughly scrutinize each part of the proposal. We will ask agencies not only about how much they are asking, but how they are going to use it and what concrete benefit it will give to the people).”

The Speaker said the proposed budget would be evaluated based on three fundamental questions: where the funds will go, what concrete change it can provide, and how it can be felt by ordinary Filipinos.

Dy said the national budget is more than a collection of figures and allocations, noting that behind every peso are Filipinos counting on the government for better services, greater opportunities, and an improved quality of life.

“Sapagkat ang budget na ito ay para sa pamilyang umaasang magiging mas abot-kaya ang presyo ng pagkain; sa magulang na nangangailangan ng maayos na serbisyong pangkalusugan; sa batang nangangarap makapagtapos; sa magsasakang nangangailangan ng suporta; at sa manggagawang naghahangad ng disenteng trabaho at mas patas na pagkakataon (Because this budget is for families hoping for affordable prices of food; for the parent who needs better health services; for the child dreaming of finishing college; for the farmer needing support; and the worker aspiring for a decent job and equal opportunity),” he said.

“Sila ang dapat maging batayan ng ating mga prayoridad (They should be the basis of our priorities).”

Dy noted that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), laid down the government’s direction of strengthening the country’s security and self-reliance while ensuring that government services reach those who need them most.

From food and energy to education, healthcare, jobs, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness, he said, the proposed 2027 national budget would be one of the government’s most important instruments for turning these priorities into concrete action.

He said that with the NEP now in Congress, the House has the responsibility to ensure that these objectives are preserved throughout the deliberations and reflected in the final version of the General Appropriations Bill.

He, likewise, committed to keeping the congressional budget process open and transparent, building on reforms first introduced last year.

“Last year, we began implementing reforms, such as the Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee, or BARSC, and introduced the live-streaming of our bicameral meetings,” Dy said.

“Ang budget ay pera ng taumbayan. May karapatan silang malaman kung saan ito mapupunta. Sisikapin po natin na maging mas bukas pa ang pagbubuo ng ating national budget (The budget is the people’s money. They have the right to know where it will go. We will strive to make the national budget more open to the public).”

The Speaker also echoed the President’s call against waste, improper spending, and corruption, citing that every peso saved can instead be directed toward classrooms, hospitals, food, jobs, agriculture, and other services directly needed by Filipinos.

“Iyan ang ating pananagutan: tiyaking ang pondo ay may malinaw na layunin, ang mga programa ay may tunay na pakinabang, at ang bawat desisyon ay may positibong epekto sa buhay ng mga Pilipino (That is our responsibility: to ensure that the fund has a clear objective, programs have real benefits and every decision has a positive effect in the lives of every Filipino),” Dy said.

In the coming weeks, he said, lawmakers will closely examine the NEP, question government agencies, listen to stakeholders, and keep the public informed throughout the process.

He said the House will carry with it the challenge issued by the President at the end of his SONA: finish what the government has started and fulfill its promises to the Filipino people. (PNA)