Cheyenne Suarez

Lawmakers, government leaders, and diplomats listen to the fourth annual State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on July 28, 2025.
Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

P200-B last minute insertions in 2025 budget - group

David Dizon

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>Watchdog group People’s Budget Coalition is seeking a more open budget process for the 2026 national budget, saying there were P200 billion in insertions in the 2025 budget before it was signed into law.</p><p>Coalition convenor Ken Abante said a group inside the bicameral committee made up of several senators and congressmen approved the P200-billion insertions at the last minute in December 2024 while slashing the conditional cash transfer and PhilHealth budgets.</p><p>“Ang pinaka-kahindik hindik na nangyari last year ay ang dami nilang in-insert sa budget na last minute…’Yung problema natin dito sa bicam, kahit ‘yung documents, secret. Hindi natin malalaman kung sino yung nag-insert o sino ‘yung nag-delete,” he said in a DZMM interview.</p><p>The group is pushing for a more open budget process in the bicameral conference committee that will allow the participation of observers and the general public.</p><p>The supposed insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act did not come from the House, said Committee on Public Order and Safety Chairperson and Manila City Second District Rep. Rolando Valeriano.</p><p>He expressed confidence that a variance report comparing the lower chamber’s version of the General Appropriations and the GAA would prove it. The Department of Budget of Management committed to provide the said report.</p><p>“Sa budget insertion po, confident po ako na maki-clear ang Kamara dun. Una-una kapag bumalik po ‘yung secretary ng DBM, dinala niya talaga ‘yung GAB versus the final version. Doon po makikita natin kung sino talaga nag-insert. Hindi po ba?” Valeriano said.</p><p>“Kampante ako na wala talaga sa House ‘yung insertion na ‘yan, kundi pag-alis sa House nangyari ‘yan,” he added.</p><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div><div> </div>

<p>Watchdog group People’s Budget Coalition is seeking a more open budget process for the 2026 national budget, saying there were P200 billion in insertions in the 2025 budget before it was signed into law.</p>

Watchdog group People’s Budget Coalition is seeking a more open budget process for the 2026 national budget, saying there were P200 billion in insertions in the 2025 budget before it was signed into law.