House leader vows strict oversight of ‘People’s Budget’ for 2026

By Jose Cielito Reganit, Philippine News Agency

The House of Representatives plenary hall (House of Representatives of the Philippines/facebook)

MANILA – Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Monday hailed the enactment of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) as a genuine “People’s Budget,” vowing strict congressional oversight to ensure public funds are spent lawfully, efficiently, and without corruption.

The leader of the House of Representatives made the assurance after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law the PHP6.793-trillion national budget during a ceremony at Malacañang.

“The signing of the budget is not the end of our work. Simula pa lang ito (This is just the start) – it is the start of oversight. Congress will make sure every peso is spent exactly as approved,” Dy said in a statement.

He described the 2026 GAA as an inclusive, transparent, and accountable budget that puts the Filipino people first.

“This is the People’s Budget. It is a budget that is open, accountable, and focused on improving lives —creating jobs, strengthening education, expanding health care, and ensuring food security,” Dy said.

“This reflects the President’s clear direction that public funds must be used responsibly and felt by the people.”

The Speaker said the 2026 budget delivers concrete gains across key social sectors, including substantial investments in education, health services, and social protection, while maintaining fiscal discipline to keep public finances stable.

He also underscored that the 2026 GAA introduced reforms and milestones never before implemented in the budget process, marking a turning point in how public funds are deliberated and approved.

For the first time, bicameral conference committee deliberations were livestreamed, allowing the public to witness budget discussions in real time. The traditional small committee was also replaced with the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSC), ensuring that all amendments were reviewed collectively, transparently, and fully on the record.

“These reforms opened the budget process to public scrutiny. Every step and every peso can now be explained and defended before the Filipino people,” he said.

Dy said education is at the heart of the People’s Budget, noting that the 2026 GAA carries the highest education allocation in Philippine history, totaling PHP1.34 trillion.

This marks the first time the country has breached the 4 percent international benchmark for education spending.

He also reiterated that for the first time since its passage in 2017, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education program will now be fully funded, benefiting 2.4 million students in over 100 state universities and colleges across the country.

“The historic amounts allocated for education are an investment in the Filipino youth – an investment in the future of the Filipino nation,” he added.

Public health will also receive a much-needed boost in the 2026 GAA, with total health sector funding at a record PHP448.12 billion to expand Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) benefits and fully support zero-balance billing for indigent patients in government hospitals.

Dy said Congress will work closely with the Executive Branch to ensure the smooth and timely implementation of the budget, while firmly exercising its constitutional duty of oversight.

“There will be zero tolerance for corruption. No leakages, no shortcuts, and no excuses. Ang pera ng bayan ay dapat magamit para sa taumbayan (The people’s money should be used for the people),” he said.