The Senate has expressed openness to increasing transparency in the bicameral deliberations on the national budget, welcoming proposals to make the proceedings more accessible to the public, Senate secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said on Monday.
This comes as the Marcos administration’s economic team finalizes the proposed national budget for 2026, pegged at ₱6.793 trillion. The amount is significantly lower than the ₱10.101 trillion in total budget proposals submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Despite the downsizing, the proposed budget still reflects a 7.4% increase from the 2025 budget of ₱6.326 trillion.
Bantug emphasized that transparency in budget deliberations is a shared responsibility between the Senate and the House of Representatives, as the bicameral conference committee involves both chambers.
“Calls to increase transparency in the bicam are always welcome. The Senate is open to serious proposals that will enhance public access and understanding of the crafting of the national budget,” he said in a statement.
“Our kababayan have every right to know how their money is spent, and their active participation helps ensure that their elected representatives remain responsive and accountable to the people who entrusted us with this responsibility,” he said, stressing the importance of public involvement in budget processes.
Meanwhile, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman confirmed that the proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP)—which will eventually be enacted as the General Appropriations Act (GAA)—is set for submission to Congress within two weeks after the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is scheduled to deliver his fourth SONA on July 28, 2025, before a joint session of Congress. Under the Constitution, the national government is required to submit its proposed budget for the following year to Congress no later than 30 days after the SONA.
