Palace: PBBM confident 2026 nat’l budget can withstand legal scrutiny

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro (Philippine News Agency/facebook)

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is confident that the “clean and well-prepared” 2026 national budget can withstand constitutionality concerns that may be raised before the Supreme Court (SC), Malacañang said Tuesday.

“Confident po sila na ang ginawa po ngayong budget ay ang pinakamalinis, pinakamaayos at ito’y para sa taumbayan. So, confident po ang Pangulo (They are confident that this year’s budget is the cleanest, most well-prepared, and is for the people. So, the President is confident),” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing, when asked if the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) could pass scrutiny.

Castro made the statement after House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice announced his plan to question the constitutionality of the 2026 national budget before the SC, citing the presence of unprogrammed appropriations.

In an interview on Monday, Erice said the petition was being drafted.

Castro said the Palace respects moves to challenge the validity of the 2026 GAA.

“May karapatan po sila na dumulog sa Korte Suprema at tanungin kung unconstitutional ang parte na ito ng 2026 national budget. So, tignan na lang po natin (They have the right to go to the Supreme Court and ask whether this part of the 2026 national budget is unconstitutional. So, let’s just wait and see),” she said.

“Of course, kapag po sila ay nag-file ng petition, sasagot naman po ang administrasyon. At tignan na lamang po natin kung ano ang magiging resulta at magiging desisyon ng Korte Suprema (Of course, when they file the petition, the administration will respond. And let’s just see what the result and the Supreme Court’s decision will be),” Castro added.

Marcos on Monday signed Republic Act 12314 or the 2026 GAA, containing the PHP6.793-trillion national budget for 2025, the largest annual spending plan in the country’s history.

The 2026 national budget is aligned with the government’s medium- and long-term development plans and is focused on uplifting the lives of Filipinos by sustaining momentum in education reform, health protection, food security, and job creation.

Marcos vetoed PHP92.5 billion in Unprogrammed Appropriations – standby funds that are released only under specified conditions — to ensure that public funds are spent in service of national priorities and not treated as discretionary or “blank checks.”

He said the safeguards will be enforced “without exception” to serve the public interest and advance the country’s national development goals.