By Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, reporter
Philippine lawmakers reconciled听disagreeing provisions听of the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, concluding Congress鈥 review of a process marked by one of the most contentious debates in recent years amid a corruption scandal over flood-control projects.听
Senators and听congressmen听in the bicameral conference committee resolved differences after six days of debates, broadcast live for the first time, with disputes over funding for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) threatening to stall proceedings.听
鈥淭his budget will truly address the needs of our people, and above all, this budget is corruption-free,鈥 Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, head of the Senate听finance听committee, told the joint panel. 鈥淢ost importantly, this budget, I can say, will be the standard for transparency.鈥听
The vote marks the end of Congress鈥 review of the Executive鈥檚 budget,听submitted听in August and reshaped with reforms to restore public trust after a multibillion鈥憄eso kickback scheme听involving anomalous infrastructure deals.听
Final allocations for some line items were not听immediately听available, though Mr. Gatchalian said updates would听be posted online for public scrutiny.听
The panel agreed to trim P20.7 billion from the DPWH budget, based on adjusted material costs, rather than the P45 billion originally sought by senators.听
鈥淚鈥檓 confident to say that there are no overpriced materials in this budget,鈥 he听said. Disputes over DPWH funding had stalled talks earlier in the week, with听congressmen听warning that drastic cuts could hinder economic activity.听
Public Works Secretary听Vivencio听B. Dizon had urged lawmakers to restore cuts, warning that slower government spending could听weigh on听growth, which eased to 4% in the third quarter amid the corruption scandal.听
鈥淎s much as possible, we want to avoid the economic impact of unimplementable projects,鈥 Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela B.听Suansing, who heads the House appropriations committee, told the same panel. 鈥淚t may have a big effect on our economy.鈥听
鈥淚t will hit our infrastructure spending and that would have a detrimental effect on our growth,鈥 she added.听
The bicameral panel听kept听the P255billion cut for flood control works, though Mr. Gatchalian said ongoing projects already have funding under听previous听budgets.听
Lawmakers increased the Education听department鈥檚 budget by 9.9% to P961.3 billion,听largely for听school construction to support 34,000 new classrooms in听2026, and听raised the school feeding program allocation to P25.6 billion to extend coverage from 120 to听180 days.听
The听Agriculture听department and its agencies听got听a 20.7% boost to P185.77 billion to fund farm-to-market roads, post-harvest听facilities听and other modernization initiatives.听
Funding for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) rose 14.8% to P129.78 billion, partly sourced from DPWH savings. Two railway projects听had lower听allocations: the North-South Commuter Railway was cut to P28.8 billion from P57.6 billion, and the Metro Manila Subway Project to P20.4 billion from P39.2 billion, with some savings redirected to the LRT-1 Cavite听extension and Metro Manila rail improvements.听
Military base construction听got听P2.38 billion in funding, while modernization programs retained P40 billion, with an听additional听P50 billion in unprogrammed appropriations for contingencies.听
Unprogrammed funds, intended for use if excess revenues or new collections arise, now total P243.4 billion, including increased incentives for vehicle manufacturing to P4.3 billion from P333 million. Mr. Gatchalian said听these funds would听not be used for flood control or unrelated projects.听
The budget will return to each chamber for separate ratification before being听sent听to Malaca帽ang for review by President Ferdinand R. Marcos,听Jr.听
鈥淭here is enough time鈥 it鈥檚 doable,鈥 Mr. Gatchalian said听on Wednesday, though he听cited the need for a quorum if lawmakers are on break. Technical teams are听finalizing听the document to ensure听timely听submission and presidential review, Ms.听Suansing听said
