Jonathan Frederic De Santos

DBM submits P7.2-trillion 2027 budget to Marcos. PCO via Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News

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Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17865271504471786356345324771358798_947460155058330_327511749221554078_n.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Department of Budget and Management submits proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 budget to Marcos. <em>PCO via Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Lawmakers questioned on Wednesday the proposed spending cuts on social services, education, health, and agriculture in the 2027 National Expenditure Program — the executive branch&#x27;s proposed budget.</p><p>ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio called the proposed spending plan “anti-poor” and “anti-people” as he noted proposals to hike funding for defense and for flood control and infrastructure projects. </p><p>“Balik sa dating gawi (Back to the old ways),&quot; he said.</p><p>Acting Budget Secretary Kim Robert De Leon said Tuesday that proposed funding for social services will be 5% lower than in the 2026.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/11/no-insertions-pork-barrel-in-2027-2026-budgets-house-appropriations-chair-1947"><strong>No &#x27;insertions, pork barrel&#x27; in 2027, 2026 budgets— House appropriations chair<br/></strong></a></div><p>He said the Department of Budget and Management projects that agencies will be able to use money in the 2026 budget into next year.</p><p>Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Flores, a deputy majority leader, said Congress should have the executive branch give &quot;a program-by-program explanation of the large reductions in health and agriculture allocations.&quot; </p><p>He said agencies should explain which programs will be affected by the cuts and how they will affect government services.</p><p>House Committee on Appropriations Senior Vice Chairperson Albert Garcia of Bataan&#x27;s 2nd District said Congress will still review the NEP.</p><p>&quot;So, talagang may mga magbabago pa d&#x27;yan (changes will be made), depending on the priorities,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/8/11/marcos-admin-proposes-p10-77-billion-confidential-intel-funds-in-2027-budget-1928"><strong>Marcos admin proposes P10.77 billion confidential, intel funds in 2027 budget</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS</strong></div><p>Tinio also criticized the P10.773 billion proposed for confidential and intelligence funds and P111.984 billion for unprogrammed appropriations.</p><p>&quot;Wala dapat confidential sa budget. Dapat transparent lahat,&quot; he said.</p><p>(There should be nothing confidential in the budget. It should all be transparent.)</p><p>Unprogrammed appropriations are a &quot;standby authority&quot; for additional spending if certain conditions like new revenue sources are met.</p><p>Citing petitions at the Supreme Court against unprogrammed appropriations, Tinio said there should be &quot;absolutely zero&quot; of them.</p><p>The DBM said the appropriations are “consistent” with what is allowed and follow &quot;prudent fiscal spending&quot;. It also said confidential and intelligence funds are subject to rules on their use, accounting, and audit.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NO INSERTIONS&#x27;</strong></div><p>Tinio said he believes the proposed 2027 budget has &quot;pork&quot; and &quot;insertions&quot;, which leaders of the House Committee on Appropriations denied. </p><p>House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing of Nueva Ecija&#x27;s 1st District said lawmakers cannot make insertions in a National Expenditure Program they hadn&#x27;t even seen until this week.</p><p>Garcia, panel senior vice chair, said the NEP is supposed to have been prepared in consultation with local governments and congressional districts. </p><p>&quot;Ang problema kung ‘yung insertion nanggaling from the outside of the bottom-up  budgeting,&quot; he said.</p><p>(The problem would be if the insertion comes from outside of the bottom-up budgeting process.)</p><p>House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III of Isabela has said that the budget process will be &quot;transparent&quot; and &quot;accountable&quot;.</p>

<p>Lawmakers questioned on Wednesday the proposed spending cuts on social services, education, health, and agriculture in the 2027 National Expenditure Program — the executive branch's proposed budget.</p>

Lawmakers questioned on Wednesday the proposed spending cuts on social services, education, health, and agriculture in the 2027 National Expenditure Program — the executive branch's proposed budget.

House members question cuts in social services, health, agriculture in 2027 NEP

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House members question cuts in social services, health, agriculture in 2027 NEP

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 12, 2026 05:37 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

2027 national budget

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