By PCO | January 5, 2026

“HINDI tayo papayag na mapunta sa kurakot ang salaping pinaghirapan ng bawat Pilipino.”

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday vowed to ensure that every peso of the PhP6.793-trillion 2026 national budget will be spent in ways that directly benefit the Filipino people.

In his speech during the signing of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the Fiscal Year 2026, President Marcos said that every program or project will undergo rigorous scrutiny to guarantee tangible results for Filipinos, particularly the most vulnerable sectors.

“Sa National Budget ng 2026, malinaw ang direksyon ng inyong pamahalaan: magiging mas masinop, mas maingat, at mas responsable kami sa paggastos ng pondo ng bayan,” the President said.

“Ang bawat programa at proyekto ay dadaan sa masusing pagsusuri upang masiguro na ito ay may malinaw na benepisyo sa mamamayan—lalo na sa sektor na higit na nangangailangan,” the President added.

The President has signed the PhP6.793 trillion 2026 national budget, which aims to sustain the country’s progress in education reform, health protection, food security, social security, and job creation.

President Marcos also assured that his administration will intensify efforts to improve government systems, strengthen accountability, and combat corruption.

The President likewise urged the public to actively participate in the said goals.

“Ang pagbabantay, ang pagtatanong, ang pag-uulat, at ang pakikilahok ay mahalagang bahagi ng isang gumaganang demokrasya. Kasama ninyo kami sa layuning tiyakin na ang budget ng bayan ay para sa bayan,” said President Marcos.

Palace begins review of ratified proposed P6.79T budget for 2026 to ensure fiscal discipline, transparency

Earlier, Malacañang said the Executive Branch has begun a comprehensive review of the Congress-ratified proposed P6.793 trillion 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) to ensure its integrity, fiscal discipline, and alignment with the needs of the Filipino people.

In a statement on Tuesday, Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto said the Executive Branch received the ratified 2026 GAA on December 29, 2025, and has been conducting a thorough review, which is expected to take about a week, to ensure its integrity and effective execution.

Recto added that the President and his team are scrutinizing all allocations and provisions to fully account for any changes from the originally submitted National Expenditure Program (NEP).

“We will ensure that the 2026 GAA will satisfy not only the legal and technical requirements but, more importantly, the needs of the Filipino people. This review is expected to take about a week,” Recto said.

Recto said government services will remain uninterrupted even under a brief reenacted budget, stressing that the review aims to uphold fiscal discipline and ensure Filipinos will benefit from government projects.

“The public is assured that a brief period under a reenacted budget will not disrupt government operations. This deliberate review safeguards fiscal discipline and ensures that taxpayers’ hard-earned money is spent wisely and translated into benefits for the Filipino people,” the Executive Secretary added. | PND