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The Department of Budget and Management headquarters in Manila on Sept. 2, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1785483215739dbm1.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>The Department of Budget and Management headquarters in Manila on Sept. 2, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA — The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has until August 14 to submit its proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 to Congress, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Kim De Leon said on Friday.The proposed spending plan is equivalent to 21.7 percent of the country&#x27;s gross domestic product (GDP).De Leon, however, declined to disclose further details of the proposed budget before its formal submission.During a forum in Makati, De Leon also assured the public that the DBM is putting in place stronger safeguards to help prevent a repeat of the flood control corruption scandal.One of the new safeguards was requiring agencies to secure endorsements from their respective Regional Development Councils (RDCs) for priority regional projects before these could be included in their budget proposals.De Leon said the DBM also subjected agency proposals to a more stringent review process, evaluating them not only for completeness but also for implementation readiness, strategic relevance, measurable outcomes, fiscal sustainability, and alignment with the Philippine Development Plan and the President&#x27;s priorities.“We asked questions that every Filipino taxpayer deserves to ask. Is this project truly necessary? Will it genuinely improve people&#x27;s lives? Can the agency implement it effectively? Does it duplicate existing programs? Will it produce measurable results? And above all, is every peso truly justified?” he said.De Leon stressed that the national budget should fund only projects that address genuine public needs and can withstand close scrutiny.“The commitments we heard in the President&#x27;s SONA (State of the Nation Address) must become classrooms where children can dream. Hospitals where lives are saved. Roads and bridges that connect opportunities. Flood control projects that truly protect communities,” he said. De Leon also cited the launch of the DBM’s Centralized Open Monitoring Platform for Appropriations and Spending Statistics (COMPASS) as proof of the agency’s resolve to be more transparent.He described it as the country&#x27;s first integrated digital platform that enables every Filipino to trace the movement of public funds— from the National Expenditure Program to the General Appropriations Act, through allotments, obligations, and disbursements.“For the first time, budget information is no longer hidden behind lengthy spreadsheets or highly technical reports. It is now accessible, understandable, and available to every citizen,&quot; he said.&quot;We do this because we believe transparency is not measured by the amount of information government publishes. Transparency is measured by whether ordinary citizens can actually understand that information.&quot;&quot;When people understand the budget, they are empowered to ask better questions. They become more engaged in governance, and they become stronger partners in ensuring accountability,” he said.De Leon also emphasized that the DBM&#x27;s role does not end with preparing the national budget but extends to monitoring the implementation of government projects.He said the public can also help monitor infrastructure projects through the Project DIME website.“Through satellite imagery, drones, geotagging, geographic information systems, and other digital technologies, Project DIME enables independent validation of major infrastructure projects, including flood control projects. Instead of relying solely on written accomplishment reports, technology now allows us to verify whether projects are actually progressing as reported,” he said.De Leon assumed office as Budget Secretary in May, succeeding Amenah Pangandaman, who resigned after being implicated in the alleged flood control budget insertion scheme.

The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has until August 14 to submit its proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 to Congress.

The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has until August 14 to submit its proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 to Congress.

DBM targets Aug.14 submission of proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 budget

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DBM targets Aug.14 submission of proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 budget

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 31, 2026 04:13 PM PHT

Read More:

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2027 national budget

National Expenditure Program

General Appropriations Act

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