Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Monday assured the public of tighter Executive–Legislative coordination and stricter oversight as Congress prepares for the bicameral conference committee on the proposed ₱2026 national budget.
Pangandaman said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will closely monitor bicameral proceedings to safeguard the people’s budget from irregular realignments and ensure spending priorities remain aligned with the Marcos administration’s national agenda.
“Babantayan po namin nang maigi ang budget ngayon,” Pangandaman told senators during a Senate finance panel hearing on Monday.
The statement came after Senator Panfilo Lacson raised concerns over questionable budget realignments in previous cycles, particularly in the 2025 budget, where allocations for the education sector were overtaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)—now under scrutiny for alleged anomalies in its multi-billion flood control projects.
Pangandaman clarified that while the DBM no longer has direct jurisdiction over the General Appropriations Bill once it reaches bicameral, the agency will coordinate with the House Secretariat and the Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office to provide real-time technical validation of proposed changes.
“If there are items that violate the Constitution or lack proper support, we’ll flag them, document them, and elevate our recommendations—consistent with the President’s veto powers and our shared commitment to good governance,” she added.
Pangandaman also renewed her call for a transparent bicameral process, pushing for livestreamed hearings and the publication of amendment matrices with complete justifications.
