President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his Cabinet have approved a ₱6.793-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026, with Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman urging agencies not to seek additional funding during congressional hearings to avoid controversial insertions.
Pangandaman stressed that the tight fiscal space limits budget flexibility, and any changes may lead to distortions and further hurt project continuity.
The approved NEP focuses on education, livelihood, infrastructure, and essential government services, and is equivalent to 22% of GDP, up 7.4% from 2025.
Lawmakers have vowed reforms in the budget process amid past allegations of manipulation and unconstitutional allocations.
The 2026 NEP will be submitted to Congress within 30 days of Marcos’ July 28 State of the Nation Address, which he prepares personally.
Source: PhilNews24 | July 16, 2025
