House of Representatives Approves P6.793-Trillion National Budget for 2026

Strategic Insights -

The House of Representatives approved the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, with 287 lawmakers voting in favor of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) during the plenary session. The bill was adopted after amendments were made to cut the Office of the Vice President's budget by P156 million and rejecting a proposal to scrap the P250-billion unprogrammed appropriations. The approval came after the bill hurdled the second reading on October 10. Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing, the House appropriations chair, emphasized that the subcommittee had removed P35 billion worth of infrastructure projects from the UA, citing concerns about the government's ability to afford such measures.

Key Takeaways:

  • The House of Representatives approved the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 with 287 lawmakers voting in favor of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
  • The bill was adopted after amendments were made to cut the Office of the Vice President's budget by P156 million and rejecting a proposal to scrap the P250-billion unprogrammed appropriations.
  • Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing, the House appropriations chair, stated that the subcommittee had removed P35 billion worth of infrastructure projects from the UA.
  • The Makabayan bloc opposed the measure, describing it as a "brazen continuation of the corrupt pork barrel system" that allegedly funneled billions of pesos through flood control projects since 2022.
  • The bloc cited P695.78 billion in supposed "pork" allocations, including P243 billion in UA and P10.9 billion in confidential and intelligence funds.

Statistics:

  • P6.793 trillion: proposed national budget for 2026
  • 287: number of lawmakers voting in favor of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB)
  • 12: number of lawmakers who voted against the GAB
  • 2: number of lawmakers who abstained from voting
  • P156 million: amount cut from the Office of the Vice President's budget
  • P35 billion: amount removed from the UA by the subcommittee
  • P695.78 billion: supposed "pork" allocations cited by the Makabayan bloc
  • P243 billion: supposed "pork" allocations in the UA
  • P10.9 billion: supposed "pork" allocations in confidential and intelligence funds
  • P250 billion: unprogrammed appropriations that were rejected

Sources:

  • INQUIRER.net: "House OKs P6.793T budget for 2026"
  • SyndiGate Media Inc.: "House OKs P6.793T budget for 2026"