Budget 2026: ₱6.793 Trillion approved, ₱92.5-B vetoed to guard public funds

MANILA (January 6) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday signed into law the ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, vetoing ₱92.5 billion in unprogrammed items to tighten safeguards on public spending and reinforce fiscal discipline.

“The year 2025 tested our nation on many fronts… These challenges are painful, but they also made one thing clear: real change could no longer wait,” the President said.

“As we enter this year, let us take this opportunity to start moving forward with difficult but needed reforms in governance, to rebuild our trust… and deliver an honest and effective government to the Filipinos.”

Sectoral Allocations

“The national budget shall sustain our momentum in education reform,” Marcos said.

Health was allocated its largest-ever budget at ₱448.125 billion, aimed at advancing universal healthcare through:

Nearly ₱129.8 billion will also strengthen PhilHealth, including ₱60 billion restored in line with a Supreme Court ruling to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Agriculture received ₱297.102 billion, supporting:

Other key provisions include:

Fiscal Discipline: Vetoing Unprogrammed Appropriations

Marcos emphasized that unprogrammed appropriations are not “blank checks.”

“We will not allow the unprogrammed appropriations to be misused or treated as a back door for discretionary spending,” he said, noting that ₱92.5 billion of unprogrammed items were vetoed.

“Safeguards will be strictly enforced and fund releases made transparent.”

The President vowed to uphold his constitutional duty to ensure the prudent use of public funds, framing the 2026 GAA as a tool not only for growth but for restoring public trust and promoting accountable governance.

Budget 2026: ₱6.793 Trillion approved, ₱92.5-B vetoed to guard public funds

MANILA (January 6) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday signed into law the ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, vetoing ₱92.5 billion in unprogrammed items to tighten safeguards on public spending and reinforce fiscal discipline.

“The year 2025 tested our nation on many fronts… These challenges are painful, but they also made one thing clear: real change could no longer wait,” the President said.

“As we enter this year, let us take this opportunity to start moving forward with difficult but needed reforms in governance, to rebuild our trust… and deliver an honest and effective government to the Filipinos.”

Sectoral Allocations

“The national budget shall sustain our momentum in education reform,” Marcos said.

Health was allocated its largest-ever budget at ₱448.125 billion, aimed at advancing universal healthcare through:

Nearly ₱129.8 billion will also strengthen PhilHealth, including ₱60 billion restored in line with a Supreme Court ruling to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Agriculture received ₱297.102 billion, supporting:

Other key provisions include:

Fiscal Discipline: Vetoing Unprogrammed Appropriations

Marcos emphasized that unprogrammed appropriations are not “blank checks.”

“We will not allow the unprogrammed appropriations to be misused or treated as a back door for discretionary spending,” he said, noting that ₱92.5 billion of unprogrammed items were vetoed.

“Safeguards will be strictly enforced and fund releases made transparent.”

The President vowed to uphold his constitutional duty to ensure the prudent use of public funds, framing the 2026 GAA as a tool not only for growth but for restoring public trust and promoting accountable governance.

Budget 2026: ₱6.793 Trillion approved, ₱92.5-B vetoed to guard public funds

MANILA (January 6) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday signed into law the ₱6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, vetoing ₱92.5 billion in unprogrammed items to tighten safeguards on public spending and reinforce fiscal discipline.

The signing of Republic Act 12314, or the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), took place at Malacañan Palace. Marcos said the challenges of 2025—including climate-related disruptions, economic uncertainty, and exposed corruption—made timely reforms unavoidable.

“The year 2025 tested our nation on many fronts… These challenges are painful, but they also made one thing clear: real change could no longer wait,” the President said.

“As we enter this year, let us take this opportunity to start moving forward with difficult but needed reforms in governance, to rebuild our trust… and deliver an honest and effective government to the Filipinos.”

Sectoral Allocations

Education received the largest share, ₱1.345 trillion, to fund:

“The national budget shall sustain our momentum in education reform,” Marcos said.

Health was allocated its largest-ever budget at ₱448.125 billion, aimed at advancing universal healthcare through:

Nearly ₱129.8 billion will also strengthen PhilHealth, including ₱60 billion restored in line with a Supreme Court ruling to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.

Agriculture received ₱297.102 billion, supporting:

Social services were allocated ₱270.189 billion, targeting systemic vulnerabilities and promoting inclusive growth, with a goal of achieving single-digit poverty by 2028.

Other key provisions include:

Fiscal Discipline: Vetoing Unprogrammed Appropriations

Marcos emphasized that unprogrammed appropriations are not “blank checks.”

“We will not allow the unprogrammed appropriations to be misused or treated as a back door for discretionary spending,” he said, noting that ₱92.5 billion of unprogrammed items were vetoed.

“Safeguards will be strictly enforced and fund releases made transparent.”

The President vowed to uphold his constitutional duty to ensure the prudent use of public funds, framing the 2026 GAA as a tool not only for growth but for restoring public trust and promoting accountable governance.