Palace seeks proof of questionable items in ₱7.2-trillion 2027 budget

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 04, 2026

Photo courtesy: Presidential Communication Office

Malacañang has asked budget watchdogs to submit evidence of questionable allocations in the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, assuring them that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will review their findings.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the appeal on Tuesday, November 3, as concerns grew over possible irregularities in the government’s spending plan.

Castro urged civil society groups to provide the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) with copies of budget documents showing suspicious allocations. She said the findings would help Marcos examine the spending bill before signing it into law.

The appeal followed warnings from the People’s Budget Coalition (PBC), which flagged more than ₱1 trillion in potentially questionable allocations in the House-approved budget.

The group identified ₱210 billion in financial assistance programs, ₱695 billion in infrastructure allocations, and ₱112 billion in unprogrammed funds that it believes warrant closer examination.

The figures represent the coalition’s findings and do not establish that the allocations are illegal.

Castro said Marcos would not tolerate budget amendments that lack proper documentation, clear descriptions, or identifiable projects.

However, she maintained that the President would not interfere with congressional deliberations, citing the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.

The Palace also urged lawmakers to preserve projects included in the administration’s National Expenditure Program, warning that removing funding could delay or halt projects scheduled for completion during Marcos’ term.

The proposed budget still faces further legislative review before reaching the President for approval.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) is preparing to challenge portions of a Supreme Court ruling concerning the 2024, 2025, and 2026 national budgets.

The Supreme Court found several congressional increases in government appropriations unconstitutional, including a ₱449.5-billion increase in unprogrammed funds under the 2024 budget.

Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe is expected to file a motion for reconsideration on Wednesday, November 4.

Castro said the Palace would await the formal filing before discussing which budget allocations might be affected.