THE Marcos Cabinet is reviewing the proposed 2027 national budget to ensure it is aligned with the administration’s priority programs and projects that are ready for immediate implementation, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
In a briefer released by the Office of the Executive Secretary, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said that the scrutiny aims to ensure that the proposed spending plan complies with the chief executive’s directive to allocate public funds only to programs that will immediately deliver tangible benefits to the Filipino people.
The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), composed of the departments of Budget and Management; Finance; Economy, Planning, and Development (formerly NEDA); and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas earlier proposed a national budget of P7.2 trillion for 2027, which represents 21.7 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and reflects a 6 percent increase over the 2026 spending program.
“Only projects that are aligned with the government’s agenda, consistent with the national development plan, and provide significant public benefit should be included in the proposed budget,” Recto said in Filipino.
During a Cabinet meeting on July 10, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Kim de Leon presented the key features of the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted to Marcos.
The president previously said he wants a thorough review and careful evaluation of the spending plan following the massive corruption tied to anomalous government flood control projects.
“So, everything must be compatible with the government program, according to the national plan, and the public benefit should be included in the proposed expenditure,” Recto said.
The meeting was attended by Cabinet members from key government agencies, including Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino, and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.
Senior officials from the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Transportation, and Health also participated.
