Senator Ejercito open to P2 billion cut in proposed Senate budget

Senator JV Ejercito is open to slashing the chamber’s proposed P7.7billion budget for 2027 by P2 billion, saying the Senate should demonstrate the fiscal discipline it expects from other government agencies.

Ejercito, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said the Senate’s proposed budget, which has been approved at the committee level for plenary consideration, remains subject to further deliberations.

“We want to practice what we preach. If we are asking other government agencies to exercise fiscal discipline and justify every peso of their budget, then the Senate should lead by example,” he added.

Senate Accounts Committee Chairperson Panfilo Lacson earlier proposed reducing the chamber’s budget by P2 billion, saying the move could encourage the House of Representatives to make similar cuts.

“Magbabawas kami ng (mga) P2 billion just to set the trend for the House to follow,” Lacson said.

Lacson also noted that the House had increased its proposed budget by P5 billion.

The proposed reduction comes amid calls for tighter scrutiny of the 2027 national budget following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down provisions of the 2024, 2025 and 2026 national budgets concerning Unprogrammed Funds.

Ejercito has also urged House members to address outstanding issues in the proposed national budget during the bicameral conference committee proceedings instead of recalling the version already approved by the chamber.

Several House members, including those from the Makabayan bloc, have called for the recall of the House-approved budget bill for further review following the high court ruling.

Ejercito warned that recalling the measure could jeopardize the timely passage of the national budget and result in a reenacted budget if the proposed spending measure is not signed into law before the start of the fiscal year.

A reenacted budget could result in continued funding for existing projects while leaving new programs without allocations.