MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has responded strongly to recent actions by some House lawmakers, accusing them of attempting to hold the budget process hostage. In a statement released on Saturday, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin expressed the Cabinet’s objection to what they view as politically motivated moves aimed at shifting blame to the executive branch rather than addressing internal issues of corruption and failure.
Allegations Against House Lawmakers
Bersamin criticized certain members of the House of Representatives for trying to undermine the integrity of the budget process.
He specifically mentioned the recent recommendation from House party leaders to return the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which includes the proposed PHP 6.793 trillion budget for the next fiscal year, to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). This move was seen as an attempt to politicize the process.
“The Members of the Cabinet will not tolerate any effort to hold the budget process hostage by political theatrics,” Bersamin said, reaffirming that the executive branch would not allow such tactics to derail the budget process.
Resolution on the 2026 NEP
Despite initial plans by the House to return the 2026 NEP to the DBM, House leaders eventually dropped that idea. Instead, they agreed to allow the DBM and concerned agencies to address and correct the flagged items in the proposed budget.
The DPWH’s budget was one of the key areas under review, with concerns about double entries and project insertions.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had previously ordered a sweeping review of the DPWH’s proposed budget for 2026. DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon both pledged to resolve the issues and make necessary corrections to the 2026 NEP within the set two-week deadline.
Bersamin’s Call for Accountability in the House
In his statement, Bersamin also advised House lawmakers to “clean [their] house first” and address their own issues before pointing fingers at the executive branch. He emphasized that corruption within the House of Representatives could undermine any investigation into anomalies.
“All investigations into anomalies will be futile if the sources of corruption remain unchecked,” Bersamin stated. He urged lawmakers to heed the public’s demand for full accountability and transparency.
Conclusion: Focus on Accountability and Transparency
The Palace has made it clear that it will not allow political moves to derail the budget process or shift blame onto the executive branch. With the 2026 NEP now under review, Malacañang is calling for full accountability from the House of Representatives, ensuring that the focus remains on delivering a transparent and efficient budget process for the benefit of the people.
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