Senate vows no exemptions in 2027 budget cleanup, including Sandro Marcos’ district

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 02, 2026

Photo courtesy: Sandro Marcos | Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate majority bloc has pledged to scrutinize questionable allocations in the proposed 2027 national budget, including infrastructure projects in the congressional district of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s son, Rep. Sandro Marcos.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said on Sunday, November 1, that majority senators are backing Senate Finance Committee Chairman JV Ejercito’s efforts to remove unjustified and potentially corruption-prone allocations from the House-approved spending bill.

The move comes as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) faces a November 3 deadline to submit supporting documents for thousands of infrastructure projects added during House deliberations.

“The majority of senators are rallying behind Senate Finance Committee Chairman JV Ejercito’s efforts to cleanse the 2027 budget of unwarranted, whimsical, and corruption-prone items,” Lacson said in a social media post, emphasizing that the review would cover everyone.

Thousands of infrastructure projects under review

A Senate review found that the number of DPWH projects increased from 11,420 in the executive branch’s original National Expenditure Program to 16,244 in the House-approved General Appropriations Bill.

Of the projects in the House version, 6,271 were identified as newly introduced without undergoing initial review by the executive branch.

The total number of projects increased by 4,824, reflecting the net difference between the two budget versions. This is separate from the 6,271 newly introduced projects identified by the Senate.

The review also uncovered gaps in supporting documentation.

During an October 26 consultation with civil society groups, Ejercito reported that only 1,418 of the 16,244 projects had accompanying physical or digital documents submitted to the Senate finance committee.

The remaining 14,826 had no supporting documents submitted at the time, prompting the committee to flag approximately ₱266 billion worth of infrastructure projects for further examination.

The missing records do not automatically indicate corruption, but senators want the DPWH to establish the projects’ necessity, costs and technical requirements before deciding which allocations should remain.

Sandro Marcos’ district not exempt

Lacson said the scrutiny would extend to the first district of Ilocos Norte, represented by House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos.

According to the senator, the district recorded the largest net increase in public works allocations under the House-approved budget.

Asked whether the district’s allocations would be included in the Senate review, Lacson replied, “Yes, absolutely.”

The proposed additional infrastructure funding for the district amounts to approximately ₱4.4 billion, according to figures discussed by Malacañang.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on October 29 that the allocations remain proposals and must undergo further scrutiny before any funding can be approved.

She stressed that the President would review proposed projects and would not approve those lacking sufficient documentation or a clear public benefit.

The proposed funding increase does not establish wrongdoing by Sandro Marcos or prove that the projects are irregular.

DPWH given until November 3

Ejercito has secured a commitment from the DPWH to remove infrastructure projects without complete supporting documents from the House-approved budget proposal before Senate plenary debates begin, unless the agency submits the requirements by Tuesday, November 3.

The deadline gives the department an opportunity to provide records supporting the projects’ inclusion in the national spending plan.

Projects that remain inadequately documented could be recommended for removal as senators prepare their version of the budget.

Lacson said the Senate majority also intends to preserve transparency measures introduced by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

These include allowing civil society organizations to observe the bicameral conference committee deliberations, which Ejercito has said will be livestreamed to the public.

Senate budget debates set for November

The Senate is scheduled to resume plenary sessions on November 9, with debates on the proposed 2027 national budget expected to begin on November 23.

Senators will review the disputed allocations before finalizing their version of the spending bill.

Any differences between the House and Senate versions will then be reconciled through a bicameral conference committee before the final budget is submitted to the President.